County Hall to become hotel
26/02/2025
The County Council plans to move to Speedwell House in the city
by Esme Kenney, Local Democracy Reporter
Oxfordshire County Council’s headquarters is set to become a “high quality” hotel as part of plans to revamp the West End of Oxford and boost the local economy.
County Hall in Oxford city centre will be sold as the council prepares to move to its new home at Speedwell House in spring 2027.
Details of how much the council will gain from the sale as well as the identity of the buyer remain confidential, as final talks with the buyer are ongoing.
The decision was rubber-stamped by cabinet members at their meeting yesterday (February 25).
A total of 19 bids were made for repurposing the building, including offices, science labs, hotels, residential, student accommodation, education, commercial use and church or congregation space.
Leader of the county council Liz Leffman said: “These plans are incredibly exciting for Oxford and the ongoing transformation of the West End of the city.
“A huge amount of technical and professional work has gone in to getting us to this stage and it was a difficult choice for our officers to select a preferred bid.
“County Hall is in a prime location in one of the world’s most famous cities and so we knew there would be widespread interest in the site.
“The bidder that has been selected is offering a very high quality and impressive future for the County Hall site that will compliment and improve the whole area as well as offering a significant boost to our local economy.
“The plans for the County Hall site will link all of the various regeneration schemes in the West End of the city and enable residents and visitors alike to access and enjoy the area around the castle site.”
The current building includes Old County Hall, which is Grade II listed, dates back to 1841, and contains the Council Chamber where full council meetings are held, and the Coroner’s Court. These buildings are legally protected from any alterations, extensions or demolitions, and the historical integrity and character of the building would need to be protected if any planning applications are put forward to Oxford City Council.
Receipts from money raised from the sale of County Hall will help fund the extension and refurbishment of Speedwell House, on Speedwell Street.
The council aims for the new HQ to be net zero, with air source heat pumps included in the plans, and for the building to create a 20 per cent biodiversity net gain.
A new Council Chamber and Coroner’s Court will also be included in the new building.
Councillor Liam Walker spoke earlier in the meeting calling for county hall to remain accessible to the public regardless of its new purpose, on behalf of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
People will be invited to give their views on the plans during future public engagement.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
