WORK is now under way to transform a former Oxford nightclub into a research centre for an Oxford University college.

Nuffield College is changing the use of 42-43 Park End Street, previously the Warehouse nightclub.

Scaffolding has been erected at the building and work is taking place to transform its interior.

The building is in a prominent position opposite the Register Office and is close to Worcester Street car park.

Site manager David Waters said: “We are completing an upgrade for Nuffield College on this former nightclub.

“We are turning the building into a learning resource centre and offices for the college.”

No one from the college was available for further comment but it said earlier that it has a plan to transform the area around Frideswide Square in to a new ‘social sciences quarter’ after it acquired property in the area in 2015.

Nuffield College acquired two parcels of land, including several buildings, in a deal with Christ Church in July 2015.

This included buildings to the south of Frideswide Square, such as the Jam Factory, as well as those bordered by Hythe Bridge Street and Park End Street.

Two years ago college bursar Gwilym Hughes said the college would work together with the city council to create a masterplan for Oxpens, and the so-called island between Hythe Bridge Street and Park End Street, Worcester Street car park and the area around the Westgate Centre.

Together they would form ‘a mixed-use social science and business quarter that connects individual sites across the city centre West End’.

Mr Hughes said at the time it was hoped academic buildings for the college and Oxford University could be intermingled with commercial and leisure buildings, in a bid to create a ‘cluster’ for the social sciences and vibrant public spaces.

The college revealed it had acquired the leasehold for the Jam Factory site, and other buildings on the south side of Frideswide Square, as well as the island site that includes the Royal Oxford Hotel.

Ronan Munro, editor of Oxford’s Nightshift magazine, said in 2016 the loss of Warehouse and other nightclubs was unlikely to be felt keenly as ‘the world has changed’.

He added that the drinking culture had changed in recent years and fewer people were going to nightclubs.

Fire crews were called to the former nightclub in January 2016 after alarms were activated and they attended again in September after receiving reports that a man was on the roof.

In a bid to remove buses from Queen Street transport bosses wanted to construct a turning circle on the corner of Worcester Street, Park End Street, and New Road.

But Nuffield College objected because it could affect future development of Worcester Street car park, which it owns.

Other proposed locations for turning buses, including Frideswide Square were not thought to be suitable.

Nuffield College was established in 1937 when the car manufacturer William Morris, also known as Lord Nuffield, donated land and provided a gift of £900,000 to Oxford University. This gift provided the funds to build the college.