Oxford Clarendon Centre shopping space turned into offices

Real estate investment manager, Lothbury Investment Management, has completed the pre-letting of the entirety of office accommodation at North Bailey House in Oxford’s Clarendon Quarter, on behalf of the Clarendon Unit Trust.

Ryze Hydrogen, a leading supplier of the UK’s hydrogen and hydrogen infrastructure, has taken a pre-let of all the office accommodation at North Bailey House on a 10-year term, comprising 22,639 sq ft over basement, ground, first, second, third and fourth floors.

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Clarendon Centre owners Lothbury are no longer focusing simply on retail units and the revamp is designed to transform the former shopping centre.

Lothbury received planning committee approval last year for a new mixed-use scheme, with a research and development facility.

The scheme also includes office accommodation, student accommodation, retail and leisure units, as well as a new public square.

North Bailey House is the first phase of the redevelopment and completion is scheduled for September.

The building offers flexible office space and includes a fourth-floor roof terrace, a breakout space in the ground floor reception area and a range of design features.

The letting follows the creation of a joint venture between construction company Clarendon LP GP and Oxford Science Enterprises for a pre-let of all the laboratory accommodation within the second phase of the redevelopment, which is due to commence shortly.

Adam Smith, deputy chief executive at Lothbury Investment Management, said: “North Bailey House is a landmark development for Oxford.

"It is constructed with sustainability at its very heart, achieving BREAM ‘Excellent’ and Net Carbon Zero in its construction.

"It will also provide best in class end of journey facilities and ample bike storage, promoting sustainable work travel, reflected in its Active Score Platinum accreditation for Active Travel provision.

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"This level of sustainability will make it the hallmark for office accommodation and is key to Lothbury’s commitment to sustainable development.

“We are delighted that Ryze Hydrogen, leaders in their field and a company committed to tackling climate change with zero emission fuel technologies, has taken the office accommodation in its entirety.

"They are an excellent tenant for this exceptional building, which forms the gateway to the knowledge cluster we are seeking to develop at Clarendon Quarter.”

Jamie Burns, group chief financial officer at Ryze Hydrogen, said: “North Bailey House is an ideal property for our group of businesses as we accelerate the creation of the new hydrogen economy.

"The building’s sustainable standards reflect our own world-leading net zero mission to decarbonise transportation and industry in the UK and beyond.

"It provides the opportunity to bring together our chain of innovative businesses under one roof in the heart of Oxford.”

The redevelopment of North Bailey House also includes a restaurant and retail unit at ground and basement levels totalling 5,996 sq ft, which is currently being offered to let by estate companies JLL and Savills. 

After the revamped Westgate Centre reopened in 2017, some major retailers left the Clarendon Centre to move to Westgate, including Zara and H&M.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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