Law firm Blake Morgan’s Oxford team has supported Worcester College with their completion of the purchase of the Jericho Wharf development site.
The acquisition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for an important historic site that has remained largely unused for almost two decades. The College is committed to bringing the site back into productive use through a carefully considered redevelopment that respects its heritage and contributes positively to the local area.
Blake Morgan offered multidisciplinary advice to Worcester College from the early stages of discussion with the owners, the council and other stakeholders, helping to manage the complexities of dealing with both international and local parties keen to secure the future of this important asset for the city. The team included partners Richard Wade (from Blake Morgan’s construction practice), Michael Ward (real estate), Sara Hanrahan (planning) Rajiv Joshi (employment) and Liz Bell (commercial), with support from trainee Georgia Bevan.
Worcester College recognises the strong interest that local residents and other stakeholders have shown in the future of the site. Over the coming months, the college will be engaging with the community and other interested parties as they develop proposals that seek to meet both the College’s longstanding needs and the aspirations of the wider neighbourhood.
We look forward to sharing further details once these discussions have taken place.
Michael Ward, Partner at Blake Morgan, said:
With tight timescales and a lot at stake, given the importance of this underused brownfield site to the city, it was essential to offer a full suite of advice and support on this transaction to Worcester College – derisking the complexities and helping the process run smoothly. The owner/investor was based in Hong Kong, adding an international dimension alongside the high-profile nature of the site, and it’s a credit to the strength and breadth of experience here in the Oxford team that a bright and productive future for this historic site is now ensured.
Lord Isaac CBE, Provost of Worcester College, said:
Worcester College and its predecessors have been custodians of land in this part of Oxford for more than 700 years. We are pleased to have secured this important site and are now committed to ensuring that its future development is of the highest quality, making a positive contribution to Jericho and to Oxford.
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