Investor Legal & General and the University have formed a joint venture to invest £4bn in building homes for staff and students, together with developing science parks around the city.

Strongman will become the new CEO of Oxford University Development in September.

She leaves Argent after 12 years mainly at the King’s Cross development and most recently delivering the leading on the delivery of the Coal Drops Yard retail scheme.

The OUD’s first project is focused on redeveloping university graduate accommodation at Court Place Gardens.

Over the longer term five sites in and around Oxford will be developed.

These include building 2,000 homes on green belt land at Begbroke, near Kidlington, with around half set aside for junior academic and non-academic staff.

A further 500 new student homes and a science park is earmarked for Osney Mead.

Projects are also planned for Jericho and Summertown.

Strongman said:  “The joint venture is an exciting partnership with significant potential. I can’t wait to get started.”

Dr David Prout, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources) at Oxford University, said: “It is encouraging to see that just a year after it was formed, OUD is already making steady progress with its work, which will be transformative for both the University and the city.”