Agreement signed with Beard to develop our centre at Stansfeld Park

The Oxford Trust has signed a contract with the Oxford-based construction firm Beard to build our new Science Oxford Education Centre and adjoining Wood Centre for Innovation at Stansfeld Park in Headington, Oxford.

Stansfeld Park is a stunning eighteen-acre woodland site situated close to Oxford’s Ring Road in the east of the city. Comprising woodland, ponds and grassland, it is the perfect location for the development of our brand new science centre for primary-aged children and adjoining innovation centre.  The woodland will be rejuvenated to create an urban wildspace where children can enjoy activities linked to the environmental sciences and conservation.

Established in 1892, Beard is a local family-owned company that operates in the south of England with offices in Oxford, Swindon, Bristol and Guildford. Already responsible for a number of large developments across the city, Beard undertakes design, build, restoration and refurbishment for a wide range of projects in the private and public sectors, making them the perfect partner for our development at Stansfeld Park. The contract was signed by company chairman Mark Beard and John Boyle, our Chair of Trustees (see photo above).

Matt Francis, our Director of Operations, says: “We are delighted to have signed with Beard to develop Stansfeld Park. This development will open a new chapter for the Trust and enable us to engage more young people in science and innovation; to inspire more teachers; and to add much-needed capacity to Oxford’s dynamic ecosystem. It will increase our impact in everything we do.”

“We’re extremely proud to be the Trust’s appointed construction partner for these innovative and exciting new facilities which will enhance both science and technology learning and entrepreneurship in the community,” says Dean Averies, Beard Oxford director. “Building high performance education and business facilities is an area in which our construction team excels, and we are all looking forward to seeing this imaginatively-designed new scheme take shape over the coming months.”

The building work has now started on site and we have a special webcam that allows you to watch every stage of the building work as it progresses. Just go to our website here.