County Hall in Oxford is being marketed for sale as the county council moves ahead with its relocation to new headquarters.

The decision to move was taken by the county council’s cabinet in January, with plans to relocate to Speedwell House in 2027.

County Hall, which was completed in 1973, primarily comprises office accommodation.

The Old County Hall, dating from 1841, houses the council chamber and coroner’s court and is listed as Grade II.

An artist's impression of how Speedwell House could look following upgradesAn artist's impression of how Speedwell House could look following upgrades (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

The sale will allow the council to move into modern, net-zero accommodation, making way for County Hall to be reimagined by a new owner.

Proceeds from the sale will fund the upgrade of Speedwell House, with decisions to be made on how any surplus will be used.

Councillor Liz Leffman, the leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "We took the momentous decision to move from County Hall in January and since then a lot of technical and professional work has been ongoing to progress the matter.

"We have now reached the milestone of marketing County Hall to potential buyers.

"County Hall is in a prime location in one of the world’s most famous cities and we anticipate a wide range of interest from the UK and across the world.

"We believe that our decisions at County Hall and Speedwell House will improve the delivery of services and will help with the physical, social and economic regeneration of Oxford.

"We will use the move to stimulate this ambitious thinking for the city and the county as a whole."

Old County Hall is included in the marketing of the site, allowing the council to assess market interest and make a decision about the building's future.

All offers will be reviewed in detail, with a shortlist of potential buyers to be selected and interviewed.

Decisions are expected to be made towards the end of the year.

Speedwell House had for many years provided city centre office accommodation for the council in addition to County Hall.

Work to extend the building and add extra floors will begin in the middle of 2025. Concept designs include a new council chamber and coroner’s court

Councillor Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for finance, added: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us not only to create a modern carbon-neutral office and a welcoming and comfortable space for our employees, councillors and residents, but also to help transform this part of the city and better support those using the area.

"We’re looking forward to seeing the new offices take shape and to moving in during early 2027."