If memory serves me right this building (at least two floors of it) was the one time home of the City Planning Department.

I hope you got your students to plot on a current map how much of this plan was fulfilled and still exists as built. I'm sure the 3 buildings pictured as "under construction" are still there.

Spot on. Mix of housing age is the key to answering your question.

Did they ask any of the customers living in CPZs that have to deal with their not very state of the art IT system?

Isn't this a National Trust property? Think you might have mentioned that, don't you?

And what about the chaos at the Queen St corner outside Santander? Can just be seen in the distance in your shot.

Prelim work for demolition started at least a month ago - June 2025. Construction starts Jan. 2026. Construction ends Dec. 2027. New building opens Oct. 2028. So if all goes to plan total time of disruption of traffic on The Plain 3 years and 4 months. Is this justifiable?

I've seen this claim before. It's based on the walking distance between "attractions". Sadly, although the distances in central Oxford are quite short, this tells us nothing about the quality of the pedestrian experience even on such short trips. Most locals will tell you it's mostly rubbish.

Well I do hope it really is a "transition by design" of what we can see here. Not a tree in sight and the cheapest and most boring buildings imaginable. But I assume whatever replaces it will overlook a dis-used football stadium.