Up to 200 jobs could be created at an office development on a site formerly proposed for a probation centre in Oxford.

Last month the WE Black/Ardant Partnership pulled out of the controversial scheme to develop the site in Mill Street, Oxford, at a building once occupied by school and college photographer Gillman and Soame, following a campaign by residents.

Now it is pressing ahead with plans to convert Trajan House into a modern office scheme, which will offer a prime location for companies looking to relocate within the city, or from outside.

Ardant/WE Black Partnership director Tony Nolan said: “We recognised the local campaign was gathering momentum and there was a black cloud over everybody and everything, including ourselves, in terms of whether we were going to go ahead.

“We are in Oxford for the long-term and it was becoming embarrassing, so we made the decision to withdraw.”

After meetings with local campaigners, the developers are keen to hear from organisations in the education sector, and an application to alter the planning consent has been submitted.

Mr Nolan said: “We agreed to stay in touch with residents and one of their suggestions was to look at the education market. It could be a language school or a tutorial college — it opens a lot of options up.”

The building, constructed in 1972, has been stripped back to its original frame and work starts later this month.

The finished site, being developed at a cost of £2.5m, will comprise 22,800 sq ft of flexible accommodation over three floors, which could house up to up to 200 workers.

Unusually for a development so close to the city centre, it will also include 34 car parking spaces.

It is hoped the shell of the building can be completed by April, and it will be available either to rent, or buy.

Trajan House is thought to be the only speculative building currently being constructed within the ring road. It is extremely rare to find a new office building within the city centre, so demand is expected to be strong.

However, Mr Nolan is keeping his options open. He added: “It is still risky when you spend money without having someone to move in when you finish it. It is definitely a guessing game.”

The Thames Valley Probation Service had planned to turn Trajan House into a centre for about visiting 350 criminals, including sex offenders.

A shortlist of five alternative Oxford locations has now been drawn up.