Agenda item

Cllr Dan Levy, Cabinet member for Finance, Property, and Transformation, Lorna Baxter, Executive Director (Resources) and Section 151 Officer, and Vic Kurzeja, Director of Property and Transformation, have been invited to present a report on progress relating to the redevelopment and regeneration of Oxford city centre, arising from the City Centre Accommodation Strategy.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

Cllr Dan Levy, Cabinet member for Finance, Property, and Transformation, and Vic Kurzeja, Director of Property and Transformation, were invited to present a report on progress relating to the redevelopment and regeneration of Oxford city centre, arising from the City Centre Accommodation Strategy.

The Cabinet member for Finance, Property, and Transformation and the Director of Property and Transformation introduced the city centre strategic context plan which provided an overview of ongoing work, including engagement with the city centre accommodation strategy and collaboration with Oxford City Council. They clarified that the presentation was not a finalised strategy but rather an update on current activities, the planning context, and the Council’s involvement in regeneration and development in the West End, with further details to be provided as the work progressed.

The Committee had the following questions and comments:

·       Why Speedwell House was not shown as part of a developing master plan in the city centre strategic plan, noting that it appeared as a missing brown footprint on the relevant map. The Director of Property and Transformation explained that the map in question was produced by Oxford City Council and likely predated the plans to develop Speedwell House, which accounted for its absence from the master plan illustration.

·       The County Council’s role in city centre plans, specifically what the County Council could control and what input it could have, given that Oxford City Council was the planning authority. The Director of Property and Transformation explained that, whilst the City Council led on planning, the County Council played a significant role as the highways and transport authority and as a property owner. The County Council contributed by engaging closely with the City Council, supporting the planning process, and influencing developments through its responsibilities and assets, ensuring that county interests and local needs were represented in the ongoing regeneration and strategic planning.

·       Clarification regarding the plans for Speedwell House and whether County Hall would still be relocating there, given recent developments. The Director of Property and Transformation explained that, due to the discovery of significant archaeological remains under the Speedwell House car park, the original redevelopment plans had been halted. An options appraisal was underway to determine the future use of Speedwell House, which might now become a city hub with flexible uses such as a chamber and coroner’s court, rather than the main office for County Hall. It was confirmed that the County Council remained committed to regenerating Speedwell Street, but the move of County Hall to Speedwell House was no longer certain and would depend on the outcome of the options appraisal.

·       Whether it had been a mistake to proceed with the sale of County Hall before conducting thorough archaeological checks at Speedwell House, especially given the subsequent discovery of significant mediaeval remains. The Director of Property and Transformation acknowledged that, with hindsight, the situation was regrettable but emphasised that the area had been subject to repeated redevelopment over the past sixty years, and there had been no prior evidence from historical maps or records to suggest the presence of important archaeological features beneath the car park.

It was explained that the remains were found only eighteen inches below the tarmac and had not been previously recorded. The archaeological survey that revealed these findings was undertaken as part of the pre-application process for planning permission, rather than before the sale. Although considerable work had been done in preparation for the sale and redevelopment, the discovery had not been anticipated, and the checks performed had not indicated any issues until the formal survey was conducted.

·       Concern was expressed that the report lacked detail and a clear vision for the wider southern quarter, with no updates on key sites like the Magistrates Court, telephone exchange, or river access improvements. The focus was mainly on Speedwell House, and questions were raised about when a comprehensive strategy would be available and whether a landowners group existed. In response, the Director of Property and Transformation confirmed that a One Public Estate partnership was underway to develop the area, involving public sector partners and aiming to establish a strategy within twelve months. Public sector landowners were being coordinated through a formal board, and private landowners were to be engaged once objectives are clearer.

·       About the potential pedestrianisation of Hythe Bridge Street and its impact on access to Worcester Street car park, especially in light of the planned congestion charge. The Director of Property and Transformation clarified that such changes would be considered in the longer term, beyond the current local plan period. It was noted that any decisions affecting the car park would require coordination with the City Council and its owners. The importance of integrated transport planning and ongoing consultation with bus operators was also emphasised.

The Committee AGREED to the following actions:

• The Director of Property and Transformation would supply the amount spent on the Speedwell House project so far.