Plans include restoration of 12th century former pub
Perkins & Will’s plans to replace a cinema and bingo hall in Oxford with a 500,000sq ft life sciences campus have been given the go ahead following a change of architect.
The Ozone Leisure Park scheme was approved by councillors at a meeting of Oxford city council’s planning committee on Tuesday evening.
The green light for the scheme comes three years after client and landowner Firoka Group submitted a smaller version of the scheme drawn up by Fairhursts Design Group.
These plans never made it to committee with Fairhursts Design Group going into administration in 2024 before being acquired by Bond Bryan.
Perkins & Will was brought on board in early 2025 to design an expanded version of the scheme containing around quadruple the amount of laboratory and office space.
The proposals, located next to Oxford United FC’s home ground Kassam Stadium, will replace the site’s Vue Cinema and Hollywood Bowl with four commercial and research buildings of between five and seven storeys.
The scheme also includes a two-storey leisure space, intended for use as a replacement cinema or bowling alley, and the full restoration of a 12th century farmhouse building which has stood empty since 2013 when the pub which occupied it closed.
The grade II*-listed Minchery Farmhouse, which is currently on Historic England’s buildings at risk register since 2011, would be brought back into use as a pub and is planned to be ready for occupation prior to the first laboratory units.
Daniel Parker, science and tech leader at Perkins & Will’s London office, said the scheme would transform an “underused retail destination into a place that reflects Oxford’s future”.
“By combining world-class research space with heritage restoration, vibrant public realm and a strong leisure offer, the masterplan creates a destination where scientific discovery and everyday life sit side by side. The result is a mixed-use destination that supports innovation while remaining open, welcoming and connected to the local community,” he said.
The full project team includes development manager Pioneer Group, project manager Bidwells, landscape architect LDA, MEP engineer Hoare Lea and cost consultant Arcadis.
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