proposed site for more uni blocks

June 11 ***Fiddlers Island Update***

Good news for all those who opposed the proposed development on Fiddlers Island. The Planning Inspector has turned down the appeal of the would-be developer, and upheld the decision of Councillors not to grant planning permission. The Planning Inspector concluded that allowing a 3 storey building there would have an "unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of its surroundings"

Very interesting to see what the Planning Department in Oxford does after this latest humiliation - the proposed development was recommended by the same Council Officer who handled and recommended the University's Port Meadow flats and described their location as "not in a sensitive area". Extraordinary it takes a National Planning Inspector to determine that these sites in Oxford are precious and sensitive, and to protect them from the judgement of our own planning officers!

Sorry, what are "uni" blocks? Is that an architectural term?

Here in Oxford, I'm afraid it is. Oxford University's new buildings are generally ugly blocks that are quite out of keeping with the older more inspired architecture.

Yes, they usually are ugly and out of keeping. But what are uni blocks - are they (like bricks or breeze blocks) what these university buildings are made of? I cannot find uni blocks in the builders' merchant's catalogue.

Uni blocks look like this:

I'm none the wiser. Is "uni" (I cannot find the word in the dictionary) a type of construction, e.g. unitary or monolithic?

Never mind. You can't help being mentally challenged.

Who can?

I'm still none the wiser.

Well, try not to worry about it too much. We can't all be wise.

No, but you seem to worry about these uni blocks, whatever they may be.

If you could just explain what they are, we might be able to help.

As previously explained, they look like this:


You could help with a few fireworks.