Council HQ scaled back after archaeological finds

Oxfordshire County Council said its plans for Speedwell House would play an "important role" in the regeneration of the southern end of the city centre

Plans to redevelop an empty building in Oxford and create a new council headquarters have been scaled back.

Oxfordshire County Council had proposed extending Speedwell House, after exchanging contracts to sell its current base at County Hall on New Road.

But the authority said "archaeological finds" at the new site mean that plans for a larger building and more office space have been "revisited".

It said it will instead create a "city centre hub" at Speedwell House and also use other properties across the county as offices.

The authority also confirmed it will have to move out of County Hall at the end of 2026 - but the redeveloped Speedwell House is not due to open until April 2028.

It said it was "actively exploring" how existing buildings could provide temporary accommodation - including for a council chamber and coroner's court.

Concerns have been raised by Labour opposition councillors, who accused the county of being in a "rush to pocket the money from selling off the family silver of Old County Hall".

They warned that the gap in having a permanent home would likely "blow a massive financial hole" in the headquarters plans.

But Oxfordshire County Council said that by using its own buildings as temporary accommodation, costs would be "minimal".

The revised plans will including flexible work and meeting spaces, offices, a council chamber, conference facilities and a coroner's court.

The council's member for finance, Dan Levy, said: "Having thoroughly assessed the situation after the archaeological finds at the site we believe that relocating our city centre hub to a transformed Speedwell House is the right decision and we look forward to progressing this and providing further detail to everyone as soon as we can.

"It is important to note that our revised plans will create minimal cost as our focus will be on fully utilising our existing buildings."