Yesterday, Oxford City Council’s Planning Committee passed a unanimous resolution to grant planning permission for the revitalisation of Ozone Leisure Park.
The decision marks an important step forward in delivering much-needed investment in a valued local destination. The scheme will bring forward new employment space alongside significant investment in leisure and community facilities, including a new cinema and bowling facility, community spaces, restaurants and cafés.
It also secures the future of Minchery Farmhouse, bringing this much-loved Grade II* listed building back to life as a pub and creating a welcoming space where visitors can once again enjoy the atmosphere, hospitality and drinks that have been part of its story for generations.
This investment will help secure the future of Ozone Leisure Park, support local growth and create new opportunities for the area. We look forward to working closely with the council, local stakeholders and the wider Oxford community as we bring forward this exciting development.
Revised proposals for Ozone Leisure Park also include leisure facilities and enhanced public spaces
The updated masterplan for Ozone sets out a reimagined leisure park that will deliver a broad mix of entertainment, dining, retail and community spaces, offering greater choice for local residents and new opportunities for brands and operators.
A key feature of the updated plans is a listed building planning application for the restoration and reopening of the historic Minchery Farmhouse as a pub.
The Grade II* listed building, known as Minchery Farmhouse, has stood vacant for more than a decade and is currently listed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.
The proposals would see Minchery Farmhouse carefully restored and brought back into use as a high-quality pub and social venue, creating a vibrant focal point for the wider development and helping preserve the building for future generations.
Alongside the leisure and community offer, the development would also bring new employment space that is expected to support at least 1,700 jobs in the city, contributing to local economic growth and long-term investment in the area.
The plans also include:
The plans to transform Ozone Leisure Park have been designed to prioritise keeping an active leisure and community offer during the development – The project would be delivered in phases, with both the restored public house and dedicated leisure building to be provided in Phase One, ensuring the community benefits are realised as early as possible.
A spokesperson for Firoka Group, the owners of Ozone Leisure Park, said:”This re-submission marks an important milestone in securing the long-term future of the park. The current facilities are no longer sustainable in their existing form. While many key tenants have been supported through reduced rent agreements over a number of years to help them continue operating, this new phase of investment and change is now required. With several tenancies reaching the end of their terms, this is a pivotal moment to reinvest in the site and ensure its long-term success.”
James Latham, Director at Pioneer Group, added: “Ozone Leisure Park has long been an important destination for the local community, providing valued leisure, social and employment opportunities for many years. We are pleased to be building on that legacy through these updated proposals, particularly with the introduction of new world class science facilities. This will bring new investment and a wide variety of jobs to the area, strengthening the site’s role as a key part of Oxford’s wider economy while continuing to serve the needs of local people.”