Oxford City Council to speak at 'Global Science Cities' this week

Image: View of Oxpens development area - centre of picture - which is being promoted by OXWED LLP, a joint venture between Oxford City Council and Nuffield College (courtesy OXWED)

Future Cities Forum is delighted that Carolyn Ploszynski, Director of Regeneration, Economy and Sustainability, Oxford City Council, will be joining our 'Global Sciences Cities' this week at The Oxford Science Park.

Carolyn’s background is in spatial planning and urban design working across the public and private sectors. She joined Oxford City Council in December 2018 firstly as Planning Policy and Place Manager leading on the delivery of the Oxford Local Plan 2036 and has been the Director of Regeneration, Economy and Sustainability since 2020.

In her current role she has responsibility for delivery of the council’s capital projects, which are wide ranging and include major residential, affordable workspace, community centres, public realm and infrastructure. She is also responsible for economic development, city centre management, environmental sustainability, waste and the council's affordable housing delivery. Carolyn also sits on the board of OxWED LLP, which is a major mixed use scheme in the West End of Oxford and Barton Oxford LLP, which is delivering an 885 home urban extension to the east of Oxford .   

Carolyn joined Oxford City Council from Barton Willmore where she worked across their Reading and Southampton offices providing lead planning input for a range of major development projects to successfully deliver allocations and planning permissions. These ranged from new settlements, strategic residential and mixed use developments, commercial developments and city centre regeneration projects across the southern region

Future Cities Forum will be asking Carolyn about current plans for the Cowley Branch Line and how it will help with vital connectivity and housing needs within Oxford.

The Oxford Science Park's (TOSP) Jitesh Patel, Head of Development, will also be present at Future Cities Forum's discussion. Back in October last year TOSP welcomed the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, confirming government funding of £120m for the reopening of the Cowley Branch Line to passengers.

It said: "The decision marks a significant milestone in improving transport links for Oxford’s growing innovation district. The project will reconnect Cowley and Littlemore with Oxford city centre and beyond through two new stations with one serving The Oxford Science Park directly.

"A founder member of the Campaign for the Cowley Branch Line, The Oxford Science Park has long advocated for the project as a vital step in improving connectivity and supporting Oxford’s growth as a leading innovation hub. The Park has contributed to £35 million in supplementary funding from other local stakeholders."

Yong Shen, Director of The Oxford Science Park, said: “The reopening of the Cowley Branch Line and the creation of a station at The Oxford Science Park will greatly improve connectivity for our tenants to the city and beyond. It’s a significant, tangible step towards more sustainable transport options and will support the continued growth and collaboration that define the Park.”

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: “Oxford and Cambridge are home to the two of the best universities in the world, two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world, and the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology. Yet thanks to years of underinvestment, they still lack the public transport, affordable housing, and infrastructure they need. That changes under this government.

“We have massive ambitions for the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, that’s why we’re reopening the Cowley Branch railway 60 years after it closed, why we’re building more affordable housing and investing in business.”

Reopening the Cowley Branch Line it is reported will bring far-reaching benefits across the city and region – cutting congestion, reducing carbon emissions, and unlocking thousands of new homes and up to 10,000 jobs. Passenger forecasts suggest the line will support nearly one million return journeys each year once operational.