Crime & Safety
Oxford Debenhams site transforming into £125m lab space
Oxford City Council has fully approved the plans for 100,000 sq ft of lab space for life sciences, innovation and technology.
After the department store chain went into administration, the three-storey branch on the corner of George Street and Magdalen Street closed early in 2021 and did not reopen after the third Covid lockdown. It has remained boarded up ever since.
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After the council backed The Crown Estate’s plans on Thursday, work will start to transform the building in the first half of 2027, with a targeted completion in 2029.
Anna Railton, deputy leader of Oxford City Council, welcomed the progress.
She said: “I I think most people would be happy to see the buildings being put to good use.
“The majority of people may have preferred to see the building be used for residential or commercial purposes, but this new lab space will bring people into the city centre and create decent jobs. I will welcome the building being used again.”
Last year, contractors BibbEgan Group were stripping out the former retail unit, in preparation to hand it over to The Crown Estate.
1-12 Magdalen Street is being developed as part of The Crown Estate’s partnership with leading science and innovation developer, Pioneer Group, and Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE).
Alongside a range of labs, the building will also feature dedicated conference and events space, including a ‘showcase lab’ in the heart of the development for OSE companies to make science and innovation more visible and accessible to younger audiences.
The partnership is also announcing the development of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) outreach programme for younger audiences, working alongside the council to host school groups at the ‘showcase lab’ and help to foster their interests in future science careers.
Kristy Lansdown, managing director for development at The Crown Estate, said: “1-12 Magdalen Street will deliver world class science facilities in the heart of the city – a place with not only a rich cultural history, but one that is entrenched in the history of science and progress.
“Alongside our outstanding partners at Pioneer Group and OSE, we are committed to creating a best-in-class lab space for innovative start-ups and scale-ups that will strengthen Oxford’s appeal to the wider sector and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.”
Harry Pickering, portfolio director and head of UK Real Estate for Pioneer Group, said: “Securing planning permission for 1–12 Magdalen Street is a significant milestone in transforming a prominent Oxford city centre site into a new home for science and innovation.
“Together with The Crown Estate and Oxford Science Enterprises, we are creating high-quality laboratory space that will support the next generation of breakthrough companies and strengthen Oxford’s position as one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems.”
Pete Wilder, head of property and operations at Oxford Science Enterprises, said: “Oxford is one of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems, and with that success comes growing demand for high-quality laboratory space in central, well-connected locations.”
The development of 1-12 Magdalen Street represents an initial investment of £125m from The Crown Estate and is part of the organisation’s commitment to invest £1.5 billion into the science, innovation and technology sectors over the next 15 years.
Cotswold Wildlife Park was established by John Heyworth on the Bradwell Grove Estate and opened on Good Friday, March 27, 1970.
It began with 341 animals and has since grown to house more than 1,500 animals across 250 species.
A spokesperson for Cotswold Wildlife Park said: “We hope you’ll join us in celebrating 56 wonderful years of Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens and we’d like to thank our visitors for their loyal support over the years.
“We must thank them for all their support for more than half a century.”
From its early days on a shoestring budget, the park has expanded to include giraffes, which arrived in 2010 for its 40th anniversary, and rhinos such as D’ora, named during its golden jubilee year in 2020.
George the Aldabra giant tortoise is the park’s oldest and only original resident.
To mark the 50th anniversary, keepers made him a special cake during the lockdown.
The Wantage Orchestra Spring Concert at the Old Mill Hall in Grove was celebrated as “an inspired afternoon” with the highlight being a recital by 17-year-old Katherine Payne.
The young violinist has been described as a “virtuosic performer” and is in her final year at the Yehudi School of Music.
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She will go on to study violin further once she turns 18 and is the recipient of many prizes including the Celia Walker overall prize.
Ms Payne was the leader of the Thames Valley Youth Orchestra and was playing on a Castagneri violin and a Morizot bow, sponsored by the Cherubim Trust.
Typically these violins sell at auction for between £5,000 and £15,000.
At the performance on Saturday, March 21 there was standing room only with Beethoven’s Symphony no.7 and Rossini’s The Thieving Magpie being played.
Conductor Christopher Fletcher Campbell called it “an inspired afternoon”, with home made cakes made available at the interval
One audience member said: “We enjoyed the Wantage Orchestra concert yesterday.
“Lovely programme, and Katherine was very accomplished. Good to see it so well supported.”
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Another added: “What a wonderful afternoon performance, beautiful sunshine outside and amazing performance inside.
“The choice of pieces brought out the best from everyone and they bought enjoyment to us all. Thank you I look forward to future concerts.”
The group’s next concert will be on Sunday, July 5 at 7pm at The Wantage Parish Church, with more information available on its website.
Originally scheduled to close on April 10, Blueprints of Power at Blenheim Palace will now remain open until May 31.
The decision marks 300 years since the death of Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect behind the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Heather Carter, managing director of the visitor attraction at Blenheim Palace, said: “Blueprints of Power has sparked remarkable momentum, opening conversations across generations.
“The response has been excellent, so we’re pleased to be extending the exhibition to give visitors more time to explore Sir John Vanburgh’s remarkable life.
“From his architectural brilliance to his larger-than-life character, never-before-seen items, interactive experiences and an immersive finale in the Long Library make it a must-visit for history enthusiasts, architecture fans and anyone curious about the fascinating story behind Blenheim Palace.”
The exhibition offers an immersive journey through Vanbrugh’s diverse career, from playwright to architect, and sheds light on his complex relationship with the First Duchess of Marlborough, Sarah Churchill.
Visitors begin in the Great Hall, where models, plans, and letters introduce Vanbrugh’s work, before moving through other rooms that explore his influences and connections.
A highlight of the exhibition is the finale in the Long Library, featuring a projection experience with light, sound, and motion.
This segment tells the story of Blenheim Palace’s construction.
Admission to the Blueprints of Power exhibition is included with a valid day ticket or Pass to Britain’s Greatest Palace.
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