Major plans for Old Fire Station

The arts and leisure complex between Gloucester Green and George Street is to house a new centre that will provide performance classes for homeless people - potentially replacing the current nightclub.

The Old Fire Station will retain its 170-seat theatre and gallery but much of the rest of the building will be transformed, with homeless people having a say in its design.

The future of the OFS nightclub, dance studio and other offices will be decided after a period of consultation.

The new-look building will include a Crisis Skylight Centre, which will provide creative workshops and training for homeless people and those at risk of losing their homes. The Skylight in London attracts about 100 people a day.

The project has been made possible thanks to a grant to the city council from the Places for Change Programme.

In its bid for the grant, the city council said that the project would tackle "Oxford's persistent rough sleeping problem". And the council bid promised that the Old Fire Station could become "a springboard for Oxford's most marginalised, particularly those currently or at risk of rough sleeping".

The Cardboard Citizens, a drama group for the homeless, is expected to be involved in putting on performances, with university volunteers also expected to be involved.

Patrick Murray, the city council's housing improvement portfolio holder, who was himself once homeless, said: "This proved to be the top bid in the entire country. It is something to be proud of.

"Rather than being a place where the homeless can have a cup of tea and a fag, this will be about getting people back into mainstream society."

He said the new centre would offer workshops on heathly living, computers and cultural opportunities. He hoped that it could build on work already being undertaken with the homeless by arts organisations.

Designs are expected to be drawn up early next year, with work expected to begin in September 2009 when tenants have left.