Hawkins\Brown and 5th Studio to masterplan Oxford station for Network Rail

Network Rail has appointed Hawkins\Brown, working with 5th Studio, to lead a masterplanning team charged with designing a long-term solution for Oxford station, where peak passenger demand is forecast to double by 2036.

The masterplan covers about 12 acres of railway land around the station, Network Rail said. Alongside the new western entrance that is already committed, the vision would include a new main eastern entrance.

Oxford station handles more than 8m passengers a year and 24,000 customers a day, according to Hawkins\Brown's announcement. The practice said the forecast growth in demand is driven by East West Rail, services to Cowley and Bristol and a growing customer base.

Tom Pierpoint, Industry Programme Director, Network Rail and Great Western Railway, said: "Appointing Hawkins\Brown marks an important step in shaping a long-term vision for the station, one that improves the experience for customers while creating the capacity and connectivity we'll need as demand grows."

The brief

Network Rail will lead the masterplan with its property development company, Platform4, and work with Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. Platform4 brings together London and Continental Railways and Network Rail's Property team, and Bek Seeley has been appointed its chair, according to Network Rail Property.

The work will take a transport-first approach, considering rail demand and interchange requirements alongside supporting development, Hawkins\Brown said. The brief prioritises three things: a high-quality station ready for growth, new entrances providing a gateway to the city, and improved transport solutions for onward travel.

Anthony Lazarus, associate director at Hawkins\Brown, said in the practice's announcement: "The passenger experience of Oxford Station is underwhelming and often unwelcoming as it creaks under increasing demand."

Hawkins\Brown and 5th Studio cited their work on regional interchanges at Stratford, Bury and Solihull, and on St Pancras International, the Elizabeth Line and East West Rail.

The contract

The commission, titled 'Oxford - Architect Services', was let by Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, according to the Find a Tender record. The tender notice was published on 5 September 2025 and the contract award notice on 7 July 2026.

Deliverables include a RIBA Stage 2+ design report for the first phase of development and a detailed planning application for Phase 1. Phase 2 services under the contract are optional and may not be instructed.

Following a detailed review of future capacity, including how the station and its wider transport links are used by visitors and the community, the team will run a programme of public and stakeholder engagement, Hawkins\Brown said.

Background

Oxford City Council's masterplan page says the site includes the station and Becket Street car park. The council says Network Rail plans a new through-track and platform to allow more passenger and freight trains, which will require a new station building.

The council's vision for the station is set out in its West End and Osney Mead supplementary planning documents, which superseded a 2017 Oxford Station SPD. The council says the masterplan is separate to, but complements, Network Rail's current redevelopment of the station, which will create a secondary western entrance and a replacement rail bridge able to take double-decker buses.

That current scheme follows the Department for Transport's confirmation in May 2021 of £69m for the next development stage of the Oxford station upgrade, including a new track and platform alongside platform 4 and a new western entrance next to Botley Road. Network Rail said at the time it was supporting the city council's work on a station masterplan.

Councillor Susan Brown, leader of Oxford City Council, said the station is the city's most important gateway and must evolve to support growth in passenger numbers, including those using the reopened Cowley Branch Line. In January 2025 she described the station redevelopment as essential to the city.

Network Rail said the station is to be readied for East West Rail and the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor. East West Rail services are expected to begin serving Oxford station in 2029.