Initiative is a joint venture with Legal & General

The woman who lead the development Heatherwick Studio’s Coal Drops Yard retail scheme for Argent is leaving to head up the £4bn partnership between Oxford university and Legal & General.

Anna Strongman, who is currently a managing partner at the King’s Cross developer, has been appointed chief executive of Oxford University Development (OUD).

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Anne Strongman has been at Argent for 12 years

In June 2019, Oxford university and Legal & General, signed up to a 10-year partnership to build thousands of new homes.

In the first phase of work, L&G will deliver 1,000 subsidised homes for university and college staff, 1,000 graduate homes and a further 1,000 homes for market.

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The OUD’s first project is focused on redeveloping university graduate accommodation at Court Place Gardens to the south of the city centre.

Work under the deal will also include the development of science and innovation districts, set to provide new workspace and research facilities.

As funding and development partner for the university, Legal & General’s Future Cities business will provide up to £4bn of financing over the next decade.

Strongman, who has worked at Argent for 12 years, will take up her new role this September. Coal Drops Yard was built by Bam.

Meanwhile, Argent has named Nick Searl and Robert Evans as joint managing partners to replace the departing Strongman.

And Morwenna Hall, chief operating officer, and Tom Goodall, head of Argent Related Residential, have been made partners. 

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