A CITY centre cafe that bankrolls good student deeds is bidding to expand into an old bank building.

Turl Street Kitchen wants to open a takeaway food and drink service in a former Barclays opposite its current premises.

A planning application to Oxford City Council proposes a “Turl Street Pantry” at the former bank, which closed in 2002 and is now boarded up.

The application states: “We propose to bring what is now a dreary corner of Turl Street back to life with a vibrant cafe space.”

The on-site bakery and cafe would keep three ATM machines and provide “freshly made, healthy, locally sourced” and “ethical” food.

Some 2,000 people use Turl Street – which connects to Radcliffe Camera and High Street – each hour, it says.

The application goes on: “If we can bring just three per cent of the average daily footfall in Turl Street through our doors, we could be one of Oxford’s busiest cafés.

“Serving around 500 people daily, Turl Street Kitchen demonstrates this demand.”

It would be run by Hub Commercial Ventures community interest company, which gives all profits to the Student Hubs charity.

Company development manager Josh Rhodes said: “We have an issue at Turl Street Kitchen where we can never quite meet demand.”

The pantry would employ six to eight people, he estimated.

Turl Street Kitchen opened in September 2011 to support the Student Hub charity, which helps students volunteer and get involved in good causes.

As well as employing about 25 people, it has taken apprentices from Oxford & Cherwell Valley College and hopes to offer opportunities to the homeless.

Recent projects include visits to city primary and secondary schools, a companionship scheme for the elderly, art classes, and CV workshops for homeless people.

He said: “The idea is the university should be more than just creating great academics – they should create great people who are socially aware. We do what is referred to as positive brainwashing to encourage people to think about social issues.”

The proposed site is let to Barclays, which financially supports the charity and is negotiating a sub-let for the pantry.

Turl Street Kitchen pays full market rates to owner Oxford City Council, Mr Rhodes said. The city council will make a final decision on the pantry plan.

Before becoming a bank around 1959 the building is thought to have been used as a shoemaker and formed part of the Parker & Son bookshop.

The area was hit last month by the closure of Blackwell’s Music shop next to Turl Street kitchen.

The recordings, instrument and sheet music store has now moved to the Blackwells bookshop in nearby Broad Street.