Fallaize Park at Oxford North, the new global innovation district, has won the Green Spaces award at the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards 2026, in recognition of a public park designed for everyone in Oxford to enjoy.
Now in its 49th year, the awards celebrate excellence in design, sustainability and historic conservation across Oxford. Every entry is required to be publicly accessible and usable by all. The winners were announced on 4 November at a ceremony in the Garden Quadrangle at St John’s College.
Fallaize Park was awarded the OPT plaque in a strongly contested category, shortlisted alongside three outstanding projects: the Natural Landscape History Walks Project, the Early Years Nature Garden at St Francis School and Oxford Urban Wildlife Group’s Grassland Enhancement and Living Libraries project.
A park designed for people, pollinators and wildlife
Designed by landscape architects Gustafson Porter and Bowman, Fallaize Park is a 2.25-acre public green space, freely open to everyone. It features a wildflower meadow, woodland, a grass amphitheatre and a children’s play area, and is also home to Your planetary assembly, the first permanent public artwork in the UK by Olafur Eliasson.
The park’s climate resilient planting requires no pumped water and supports pollinators, whilst the pond provides natural drainage and a home for wildlife. Accessible flat-surfaced paths make it easy for wheelchair users and families with pushchairs to explore, and walking and cycling routes link the park to Wolvercote and the Oxford Canal.
Simon Ruck, Managing Director of Oxford North Ventures, said: “To be recognised by Oxford Preservation Trust, which has looked after the city’s special places for almost 100 years, is a real honour.
“Our thanks go to everyone who brought the park to life, including Gustafson Porter and Bowman, Fletcher Priest Architects, Mace, Maylim, Willerby Landscapes and Whiting Landscape. We also congratulate our fellow shortlisted projects, each of which shows how much green spaces matter to this city.”
The win adds to a growing list of prestigious regional and national awards for Oxford North.
Open to all
Oxford North is open to the public, with more than 30 co-working and breakout spaces adjacent to Taylors Oxford North café, which looks out onto Fallaize Park. The district’s 100-seat auditorium can be booked for events, panel discussions and training days.
Oxford North caters to the whole science, technology and innovation ecosystem, from start-ups and spinouts through to global organisations, offering the full lifecycle of space from fitted labs and turnkey solutions through to grow-on space and bespoke buildings.
