Sale of council HQ to become hotel moves ahead

The sale of Oxfordshire County Council's HQ building has reached the final steps.

The authority said it had exchanged contracts with buyers L&G who plan to turn County Hall on New Road, Oxford into a hotel and the Grade II listed Old County Hall which houses the council chamber and coroner's court into a restaurant, bar and gallery with a roof terrace.

The council plans to move out in spring 2027 and make Speedwell House its new home.

The authority said staff may have to move into a temporary alternative after work to remodel the building on Speedwell Street in the city uncovered a potentially significant archaeological find.

Put up for sale in autumn 2024, the County Hall site saw 19 bids submitted with uses for the buildings ranging from offices to science labs, hotels, residential and student accommodation and a church/congregation space.

L&G have commissioned developers Reef Origin which has already converted the former Boswells department store into a hotel in the city centre.

About 1,000 of the authority's staff are expected to be eventually based there and profits from the sale will pay for the upgrade works on Speedwell House.

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