Oxford Magistrates' Court checked for RAAC concrete

The lightweight building material, reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, was commonly used in construction projects from the 1950s to the mid-90s.

Problems with the concrete’s durability, which have been known since the 1990s, were brought to the fore in 2018 when a RAAC panel fell from the ceiling in a Kent school and, last month, at an unnamed school in England.

READ MORE: University college restricts access due to RAAC

Days before the school term began, parts of schools across the country were closed over concerns about the potentially unsafe building panels.

Failing concrete was found at Harrow Crown Court, with the north London building complex closed for repairs in August.

The Ministry of Justice, which has responsibility for maintaining court buildings, said it had found RAAC in six court buildings when it conducted surveys in 2020 and 2021 of courts constructed from the 60s to the 80s. The issues had been fixed, it was said.

The original designs for the Oxford Magistrates' Court Picture: Oxford City Council (Image: Oxford City Council)

But the Ministry would not say whether Oxford Magistrates’ Court was among the buildings where the lightweight concrete material was discovered.

The ashen-faced court building on Speedwell Street was given planning permission in September 1966, after the Oxford Corporation applied to replace existing homes with a state-of-the-art five courtroom facility.

Historic planning documents available on the city council’s website set out that the structure in external, party and load bearing walls would consist of ‘reinforced concrete floors and beams and nine inch brick infill panels’.

The planning documents state the structure would consist of 'reinforced concrete floors' Picture: Oxford City Council (Image: Oxford City Council)