Topping out ceremony at Ivy Lane flats

Staff accommodation on the John Radcliffe Hospital site, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), moved a step closer to completion with a 'topping out' ceremony to celebrate the roof being installed.

The topping out of the first phase of Ivy Lane flats marks a key milestone in this project which replaces the previous accommodation with seven modern apartment buildings that will be homes for at least 340 key workers across 125 high quality residential units. Phase one is due to complete early in 2024 and phase two is due to complete at the end of 2025.

Colleagues from OUH, housebuilder The Hill Group, housing association A2Dominion and Oxford Hospitals Charity, which helped with initial funding, met on-site for a ceremonial event (Thursday 21 September) to mark the structural completion of the building.

Jason Dorsett, Chief Finance Officer at OUH, said: "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 A2Dominion for their support in this exciting development that will benefit so many of our staff."

Ryan Harris, Regional Director (Western) at The Hill Group, said: "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."

Mike May, Director of Construction at A2Dominion, said: "We are delighted to reach this stage of the build at the John Radcliffe Hospital. This project will provide high quality and modern apartments for our remarkable key workers in Oxford. A2Dominion has a strong track record of delivering affordable homes in the Oxford and we are looking forward to this scheme being completed next year."

Douglas Graham, CEO of Oxford Hospitals Charity, said: "We are delighted that the charity has been able to help make such an important initiative a reality, and it’s great to see the progress being made today. This is going to make a real difference to staff in our hospitals."

A total of 19 flats were completed on the Churchill Hospital site last year.

Pictured: Representatives from OUH, housebuilder The Hill Group, housing association A2Dominion and Oxford Hospitals Charity celebrate the topping out (Picture courtesy of Simon Harvey)