Proposals to transform an Oxford cinema into an aparthotel and community hub have been given the go-ahead by local councillors.
Cinema operator Odeon’s lease at the property at 38-40 George Street is set to expire in September 2024. Oxford City Council has been carrying out a procurement exercise since September 2022 to determine the best use for the site.
The €43m development will see the property demolished and redeveloped, with the ground floor being used as a community space and the upper five floors converted into a long-stay hotel. The proposals are set to meet modern building standards and will feature windows on all sides of the building instead of its existing large blank walls in hopes of improving the local atmosphere. The plans also outline social value commitments through the construction and lease term, including apprenticeships for young people in Oxford and paying all staff at least the Oxford Living Wage, including aparthotel staff.
Following the cabinet’s approval, the new contract and lease could be signed in August or September. The council will then aim to secure planning permission for the new building by the summer of 2024. Demolition and construction are expected to take about three years, with the aparthotel and community hub set to open in 2027.
