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Following the closure of the Tinbergen Building in February, a University-wide steering group was asked to explore options for the building and recommend a long-term solution.

The group – chaired by Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FRS – unanimously recommended the demolition and replacement of the Tinbergen Building with a new facility. This recommendation – based on academic, strategic and financial criteria – will now be considered under the University’s established governance procedures.

Support for the creation of a new home for Experimental Psychology and Zoology on a redeveloped Tinbergen site is a strong expression of the University’s commitment to sustain two world-class departments through this challenging time.

In the meantime, Oxford City Council’s planning committee has resolved to approve planning applications for modular buildings at both the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter (ROQ) and University Club sports field sites.

The University will now start to prepare the sites and work with Portakabin to put the buildings in place. The University Club sports field site will accommodate two sets of buildings, one housing specialist teaching laboratories for Biological Sciences and Biochemistry; and the second for research and administration for the Department of Zoology. The sports field facilities will be reinstated once the modular builds have been removed.

One two-storey modular building will go on the Walton Street side of the ROQ site and will house research and administration for the Department of Experimental Psychology (EP).