Plans to convert former Oxfam HQ into labs approved

Plans to turn the former headquarters of the humanitarian charity Oxfam into science labs and office space have been approved.

GreyArc Investments Limited applied last year to turn the building at Oxford Business Park into flexible lab and office space.

The proposals were approved unanimously by Oxford City Council during a planning meeting on Tuesday night.

Oxfam previously relocated to a new workplace within the ground floor of a smaller building on the same site, to help reduce costs.

Under the plans, an extra floor will be added to the building with a roof plant area and balcony.

The facility will also feature a gym, cafe, meeting rooms, auditorium and breakout spaces.

During the meeting, councillor Emily Kerr said the city council "really supports applications like this", adding it " fits with all our policies".

Councillors Mary Clarkson and Anna Railton added that the scheme was a "rare example" of a building being reused rather than being demolished and replaced.

Following the decision, Angus Bates, the director of GreyArc Investments, said the firm was "delighted" to have secured planning permission.

He added that the development was "well positioned to support the next generation of companies growing in Oxford".

The company said that work on the site would begin with immediate effect.

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