Officials have given the green light to demolish a bingo hall opposite Oxford United's football stadium to make way for a new lab and office space.
Members of Oxford City Council's planning meeting on Tuesday evening approved the application for the Ozone Leisure Park site off Grenoble Road next to the Oxford Science Park.
The new building, which is opposite the Kassam Stadium, will be five-storeys and house 1,0929 sqm of lab and office space.
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Firoz Kassam’s company Firoka, which owns Oxford United’s stadium, says life science companies urgently need space and there is an “imbalance between demand and supply”.
The bingo hall - Buzz Bingo - has been vacant since 2020 and is part of the park which also includes the Vue cinema and Hollywood Bowl.
Saj Malik, a Temple Cowley ward councillor, said at the meeting: "Unfortunately no one is playing bingo anymore. That's why it shut."
Councillor Louise Upton, cabinet member for planning and healthier communities, highlighted some concerns had previously been raised about the application in a council report.
She said: "I read the ODRP (Oxford Design Review Panel) report which was not entirely glowing.
"Have there been significant improvements made to it as a result of those ODRP comments?"
An officer responded saying improvements had been made to the façade of the building and that it met policy standards for energy efficiency.
Nigel Chapman, councillor for the Headington Hill and Northway ward, asked what weight had been given to loss of leisure facilities in the area and queried comments about a lack of public consultation.
An officer said: "Council entirely fulfilled their statutory duty in terms of consultation."
The proposals also include the construction of an internal access road, loading dock and internal and external servicing areas, as well as the installation of cycle storage with a capacity for 88 bicycles, and the installation of electric vehicle charging points to 40 car parking spaces.
A speaker on behalf of the applicant, said: "The development will form an extension to the life sciences eco system in Oxford contributing to the retention and attraction of life sciences companies and scientific talent.
"The development responds to an enormous need.
"There is minimal vacancy of lab spaces in Oxford."
Demolition news comes as Oxford United has submitted plans to move from the neighbouring Kassam Stadium to a new site near Kidlington on a piece of land called The Triangle.
The bingo hall demolition motion was proposed by councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan, seconded by councillor Louise Upton and agreed unanimously by the planning committee.
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