Key Points
- Permanent Relocation: Oxfordshire County Council has confirmed that the planned move of the Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court to a business park is intended to be a permanent transition, rather than a temporary measure.
- New Location: The court is slated to move from the historic Grade II listed County Hall on New Road to the King’s Gate building, situated within the Oxford Business Park South, off Garsington Road.
- Operational Suitability: The Council stated the current facility in County Hall, which has housed the court since 1986, is “no longer considered operationally suitable” for its requirements.
- Broader Estate Transformation: The relocation is part of a wider strategic plan by the Council to rationalise its operational estate, which includes the sale of the historic County Hall—currently marketed for potential redevelopment into a 190-bedroom hotel—and a move to a new, net-zero headquarters at Speedwell House by approximately 2028.
- Infrastructure Details: Planning applications show the new site will be reconfigured to include a courtroom, coroner’s office, family room, interview room, and waiting area, with minimal external alterations required beyond a new fire exit and accessibility improvements.
Oxford (Oxford Daily) July 17, 2026 – Oxfordshire County Council has formally confirmed that its proposed relocation of the Oxfordshire Coroner’s Court to a city business park will be a permanent move.
The announcement comes as the local authority continues a major strategic overhaul of its property portfolio, which necessitates moving out of the historic, Grade II listed County Hall on New Road. While other elements of the Council’s office relocation remain temporary, officials have clarified that the Coroner’s Court will find a long-term home at the King’s Gate building in Oxford Business Park South, off Garsington Road.
Why is the Coroner’s Court moving from its historic home?
The Coroner’s Court has been a fixture at County Hall since 1986. However, according to reports by the Oxford Mail, the Council has deemed the 1841 building “no longer considered operationally suitable” for its current needs. As the Council transitions toward a new, carbon-neutral headquarters at Speedwell House, the historic New Road site is being disposed of and marketed for potential redevelopment, including proposals for a 190-bedroom hotel.
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What are the plans for the new Coroner’s Court site?
The Council has lodged plans with its own planning department to internally reconfigure the King’s Gate building to accommodate judicial and administrative functions. As reported by the Oxford Mail, the Council’s intention is to provide a service in
“bespoke premises on the business park where it will be able to provide a service in surroundings much more tailored and suitable than if it were located in a public building alongside many other council services.”
The proposed layout for the new facility focuses on efficiency and accessibility. According to documentation cited by This is Oxfordshire, the ground floor of the reconfigured building will feature a courtroom of just under 130sqm, alongside a dedicated Coroner’s Office, a family room, an interview room, and a waiting area. The first floor is expected to house eight offices, a print room, and a jury/meeting room.
Regarding the physical modifications required for the move, the planning statement indicated that the existing office building is well-suited for its new purpose. The necessary alterations are minimal, involving the installation of a new lift, internal partition walls, and the addition of a single external fire door from the courtroom.
Is the move to the business park the only relocation for council services?
The relocation of the Coroner’s Court is part of a wider “rationalisation and transformation of its operational estate.” While the move to the business park is permanent, the Council’s broader office strategy involves multiple phases.
As noted by This is Oxfordshire, the Council is currently utilising Midland House in Botley as a temporary office base while the future headquarters at Speedwell House undergoes extensive refurbishment. The Council expects to occupy the new Speedwell House campus by April 2028.
What is the rationale behind the council’s wider estate strategy?
The Council’s decision to move follows a period of rigorous analysis regarding its property assets. In earlier statements, Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, emphasised that the shift is driven by the need for value for money and a commitment to climate change goals.
“The paper to be presented makes the case that such a move would present value for money for the taxpayer as well as keeping to our principle of putting climate change at the heart of everything we do,”
Councillor Leffman said, as reported by the Oxfordshire County Council news portal. She further noted that the rationalisation of building use is a key priority, allowing the Council to move away from older, less efficient structures that would require significant investment for decarbonisation.
The sale of the current County Hall is expected to provide the capital necessary to fund the transformation of Speedwell House into a modern, net-zero office environment, designed to reflect contemporary flexible working practices while contributing to the economic and social regeneration of the city’s West End.
