Plans submitted for new Waynflete Quad at Magdalen College
Scheme to focus on student wellbeing and sustainability.
28 January 2026
Magdalen College, University of Oxford, has submitted plans for a major redevelopment of its eastern site, with proposals to replace the existing Waynflete Building with a new, architecturally ambitious quadrangle.
The proposed Waynflete Quad is designed to deliver high-quality, sustainable accommodation centred on student wellbeing and community life. If approved, the project will also enhance the eastern gateway to Oxford, a key junction where the city centre meets the wider community.
The current Waynflete Building, completed in 1964, has long stood apart from the college’s historic architecture and has faced criticism for its design. After six decades in use, it is now considered unfit for purpose.
The new scheme, designed by Stanton Williams Architects, includes en-suite accommodation arranged around 11 student households, each with shared kitchen and social space. The development will also introduce new terraces and gardens along the riverside, aiming to foster a stronger sense of community within the college.
Magdalen’s vision includes improved public access and facilities, as well as expanded social and events spaces. The plans propose housing all first-year undergraduates on the main college site, supporting a more cohesive student experience from the outset of university life.
In addition to first-year accommodation, the college aims to make the new buildings a preferred option for senior undergraduates by offering comfortable en-suite rooms with window seats, family-style kitchens, and views across the historic site.
The scheme also includes first-class conference and flexible events facilities, which will be made available for both college and community use.
The development has been designed to meet high environmental standards, with a focus on long-term sustainability. Stanton Williams, known for its work on heritage sites such as Rhodes House in Oxford and the Royal Opera House in London, brings experience in sensitive architectural contexts to the project.
Magdalen College described the new Waynflete Quad as an opportunity to “create a new heritage” while improving the college’s relationship with the city and its surroundings.
