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Consultation begins on Old Fire Station development

Released on 25 Sep 2008

Oxford City Council and Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people, began consultation this week on the proposed redevelopment of The Old Fire Station. The Council in partnership with Crisis were awarded £2.1 million to convert the building into a cultural hub.

To mark the start of the process, a consultation drop-in evening was held on Tuesday 23 September in the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church.

The informal event was a chance for local residents and businesses to find out more about plans for the Old Fire Station and to ask questions.

The event was part of a wider consultation, which will include voluntary, arts and cultural organisations, to identify the range of services that will be offered in the building once it is refurbished.

The first phase of consultation is due to finish in October 2008. A wider round of consultation, which will include a proposed design, will begin in early 2009.

The plan is for the Old Fire Station to become an arts-focused community space for the whole community. The building will be refurbished throughout, creating high quality spaces for performances, rehearsals, exhibitions and social enterprises.

The redeveloped building will also become home to a new Skylight centre, operated by Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people. Skylight will be a learning and activity centre for homeless people and anyone who wants to learn new skills. It will offer creative workshops and formal learning opportunities to help people gain qualifications and find employment. Crisis currently operates Skylight centres in London and Newcastle.

The redevelopment of the Old Fire Station will bring benefits to the West End area by acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of Gloucester Green and will help to stimulate economic development in the area.

Councillor Mary Clarkson, City Executive Board Member for Culture and Heritage says, "The development of the Old Fire Station is an exciting project which is part of a general plan to improve the West End/Gloucester Green Area.