The scheme will consist of two four-storey buildings offering 54 bedrooms.

The project — which is set to meet the ultra-low carbon Passivhaus Institute Low Energy Building Standard (PHI LEB)— will include a podium garden with paved and planted areas, and will enhance the existing Canal House garden and links to the main college site.

To achieve the PHI LEB standard, the design will follow a ‘fabric first’ approach to achieve very low energy consumption and high occupant comfort, with a more relaxed target for space heating and airtightness, providing greater flexibility to the design of the building.

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Richard Poulter, managing director for Willmott Dixon’s central south region, said: “We are looking forward to working with St Peter’s College to deliver a low-carbon student residential building that will be a template for future projects. 

“Using our extensive Passivhaus expertise, it will be in keeping with the college’s philosophy of ‘honouring the past, building for the future’, creating a wonderful environment for students to live, in one of the UK’s most sustainable residences as they study at the prestigious college.”

Professor Judith Buchanan, master of St Peter’s College, added: "Being able to offer more accommodation for our students matters crucially. 

“Oxford’s private rental market is extremely expensive in ways that hit the poorest hardest.

“This eco-friendly new development enables us to extend our accommodation offer to undergraduates in ways that are economically so important for them, while making a transformative difference to the feel of our whole estate."

This is the latest Passivhaus development Willmott Dixon was selected to deliver, after it was chosen by Spelthorne Borough Council earlier this month to build a Passivhaus leisure centre.

The firm has previously completed similar Passivhaus projects, including the £38m Harris Academy Sutton and Hackbridge Primary School.