Award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group and housing provider A2Dominion recently celebrated the topping out of Ivy Lane, the new residential development at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, on behalf of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH). Hill hosted the event with guests in attendance from the Trust as well as representatives from A2Dominion, Hill, and Hill's supply chain partners.
Attendees gathered on the roof of the first building to be delivered to mark the significant milestone. Expected to complete in the summer of 2024, the first block will contain nine shared accommodation units, each providing five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a communal kitchen.
Due for overall completion in early 2026, Ivy Lane will replace the Trust's former accommodation with seven new buildings, ranging from three to five storeys high. Overall, the development will provide 125 high-quality, energy-efficient homes comprising 68 apartments and 57 shared accommodation units, each with four or five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a communal kitchen, providing capacity for over 340 key workers.
Ryan Harris, Regional Director (Western), at The Hill Group, comments: "Topping out marks another significant milestone for this exciting project to deliver modern residential accommodation to staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital. Hill has a strong track record of delivering high-quality homes in the Oxfordshire area, and we look forward to completing a development all stakeholders can take immense pride in."
As part of the works, Fusion Steel Framing has provided a light steel superstructure for Blocks 1 and 2. Hill acquired Fusion last year to advance its capabilities in MMC, and Fusion's presence on the Ivy Lane development ensures the project will benefit from the housebuilding industry's most forward-thinking construction techniques.
Ryan continues, "During the construction of this project, we have leveraged the expertise of our partner Fusion Steel Framing, a leader in light steel frame manufacturing and off-site production, to increase the pace of delivery and reduce the carbon footprint. This has been achieved using its innovative TRAXTM system, which forms the steel frame infill across all of the residential buildings. Alongside the bathroom pods, which are also fabricated off site, we have drastically reduced build-time, wastage, and construction traffic."
Jason Dorsett, Chief Finance Officer at OUH, comments: "We know that many staff struggle to find good quality, affordable accommodation close to the hospitals and, in particular, for new staff coming to Oxford for the first time, it can be very daunting and time-consuming to arrange suitable housing.
"Homes have a critical role in supporting positive mental and physical health, and the Trust thanks the Oxford Hospitals Charity and A2 Dominion for their support in this exciting development that will benefit so many of our staff."
Jo Evans, Director of Specialist Housing at A2Dominion, comments: "This is an essential project that will see dated residential units replaced with high-quality, energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of today's key workers. It is great to have now reached the key milestone of topping out the first residential building at the development, and we look forward to hospital staff moving into their new homes."
The homes at Ivy Lane have been specifically designed to meet the needs of the hospital's workforce with energy-efficient features including air-source heat pumps, A-rated appliances, and electric car charging points. Complete with landscaped communal grounds, on-site parking, and secure bicycle storage, the development includes management offices and a dedicated meeting area.
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