Longcross (company) explained

Longcross was a British construction company which entered into administration in June 2015.The head office was based in Ashtead, Surrey, England.[1]

The company undertook a number of projects for the University of Oxford, including at the Clarendon Laboratory, Denys Wilkinson Building, Mathematical Institute, Merton College, Queen Elizabeth House, Osler House, and a number of other departments.[2] In June 2012, the New Radcliffe House on Walton Street, the new location of the Jericho Health Centre, on the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter development site, was completed by Longcross.[3] [4]

The main page of Longcross's website formerly stated: "We are known for our non-adversarial approach".[5] In 2015, the company went into administration.

Controversial development

See main article: Castle Mill.

From 2012, the Castle Mill site (400m × 25m) between the Cripley Meadow Allotments to the west and the railway tracks by the Castle Mill Stream to the east, north of Oxford railway station on Roger Dudman Way, was developed as extensive student accommodation for the Oxford University Estates Directorate (OUED) by Longcross.[6] The development was controversial due to its visibility from Port Meadow, an historic area of undeveloped land to the north.[7] Among other environmental issues, there are badgers on the site.[8]

Anger was caused even among members of Oxford University.[9] The development was likened to building a "skyscraper beside Stonehenge".[10] In February 2013, Oxford City Council entered negotiations with Oxford University to reduce the height of the buildings by two storeys.[11] Longcross states that "Engaging with the local community is vital to Longcross’ work as a considerate constructor and Castle Mill is no exception". and claims that the company is "known for [its] non-adversarial approach".[12]

In a 'Considerate Constructor Scheme' (CCS) audit on the Castle Mill site, the auditor made remarks about:

However, in May 2013, it emerged that pollution at Castle Mill had not been checked before work begin, as was required in the planning permission.[14]

Longcross received the highest CCS score to date 48 out of 50, on the second audit at Castle Mill. Longcross was runner up in the Considerate Constructor Scheme in 2014.[15]

In June 2013, Castle Mill was nominated for the 2013 Carbuncle Cup, an annual award by Building Design for "the ugliest building in the United Kingdom completed in the last 12 months."[16] It is described as "A deeply unimaginative and impoverished design which would lower the spirits whatever its setting, but on the edge of one of central England’s most important and ancient landscapes, it is an outrage."

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Contact Us . www.longcross.co.uk . Longcross . UK . 23 October 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020022923/http://www.longcross.co.uk/Ashtead . 20 October 2012 .
  2. Web site: Education projects . Our projects . Longcross . 23 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121105142044/http://www.longcross.co.uk/our-projects/education . 5 November 2012 . dead .
  3. Web site: Longcross Completes New Radcliffe House for Oxford University . June 2012 . Longcross . UK . 23 October 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104065733/http://www.longcross.co.uk/newsroom/latest/new-radcliffe-house . 4 November 2012 .
  4. News: £11m surgery for Jericho gets residents' backing . Pete . Hughes . . 12 July 2012 . 5 November 2012 . 28 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150928175433/http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/9811793.__11m_surgery_for_Jericho_gets_residents____backing/ . live .
  5. Web site: Longcross . UK . 22 May 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130515012522/http://www.longcross.co.uk/ . 15 May 2013 .
  6. Web site: Longcross at the University of Oxford, Castle Mill Phase 2 — Innovation in action . Longcross . 23 October 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140224021145/http://www.longcross.co.uk/our-projects/current-projects/castle-mill . 24 February 2014 .
  7. News: Save our famous views for hideous developments . Reg . Little . The Oxford Times . 2 November 2012 . 4 November 2012 .
  8. Web site: Longcross Secures Student Accommodation Project at Oxford University . July 2012 . Longcross . 23 October 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130310041909/http://www.longcross.co.uk/newsroom/latest/oxford-residential . 10 March 2013 .
  9. News: Tall storey . The Oxford Times . 32 . 1 November 2012 . 4 November 2012 . 24 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130524183319/http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/opinions/leader/10021476.Tall_storey/ . live .
  10. News: Historian takes university to task over 'visual disaster' of Port Meadow flats . Reg . Little . The Oxford Times . 3 . 7 February 2013 .
  11. News: U-turn over meadow flats . Pete . Hughes . The Oxford Times . 3 . 14 February 2013 .
  12. Web site: Longcross self-promotion . Longcross . UK . 21 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130515012522/http://www.longcross.co.uk/ . 15 May 2013 .
  13. Web site: Considerate Constructor Scheme Newsletter . Considerate constructor Scheme . UK . 17 June 2013 . https://archive.today/20130618030005/http://www.ccscheme.org.uk/industry-image/index.php/industry-image-magazine-home/december-2012-issue-26/20-industry-image/issue-26/412-longcross-egp . 18 June 2013 . dead .
  14. News: University facing fight over failure to test site . Reg . Little . The Oxford Times . 1, 3 . 23 May 2013 .
  15. Web site: Castle Mill Student Accommodation . Considerate Constructor Scheme . UK . 2014 . 30 January 2020 . 17 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317125253/http://www.ccscheme.org.uk/industry-image/indexphp/component/content/article/39-industry-image/issue-32/628-castle-mill-student-accommodation.html . live .
  16. Web site: Carbuncle Cup nomination — Castle Mill housing, Port Meadow, Oxford by Frankham Consultancy Group . www.bdonline.co.uk . UK . 11 June 2013 . 19 June 2013 .

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