Member Article

Oxford Town Hall to become hub for startups and SMEs creating 120 jobs

Oxford Town Hall is offering office space to SMEs and entrepreneurs, creating up to 120 jobs, according to Oxford Times

One St Aldates is a new business centre at Carfax that will house up to 16 firms in serviced offices of 75 to 1,170 square feet.

120 jobs are expected to be created through firms moving into the space that is leased by Oxford City Council to Oxford Innovation, which runs business and innovation centres.

The office block was built in 1931 as an extension to the town hall and replaced Carfax House and the Castle Inn, which were demolished in the previous decade.

Chris Allington, managing director of Oxford Innovation, said: “We are delighted to form a partnership with Oxford City Council that will provide fantastic support to local businesses in Oxford’s prestigious and historic Town Hall.”

City council leader Bob Price said: “The council’s economic development strategy identified the need for more starter units as a key element in sustaining the city’s rapid employment growth over the past decade.

“The Starter Unit Review Report stimulated our plans to convert the Carfax block from its former use as offices for council staff into a focus for innovation activity.”

Richard Venables, managing director of property consultants VSL Partners, which handled the deal, said: “One St Aldates was an unusual building because it was sub-divided into so many smaller rooms and split over four floors.

“It ideally suits a serviced office function and given its central location should be very popular.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .