A ROOF top terrace is part of the plans Oxford City Council has for a building it wants to convert into an office for start up businesses.

The council had wanted to knock down and rebuild 1 to 3 George Street only three years ago,

But it has now submitted a planning application to its own planning department which would see the building refurbished instead.

The council wants to redecorate the interior of the building, making room for office space and a food area for workers, and at the same time has plans to convert the roof of an extension to the rear of the building into a rooftop terrace.

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A statement submitted with the planning application said the council's 'overriding objective' was to 'use public assets to deliver space to provide workspace that local people and businesses can afford in order to build community wealth and to create an economy that is more inclusive'.

The statement pointed to similar examples of 'co-working' buildings, including the Engine Shed in Bristol, in which councils have been involved in providing offices.

And design drawings within the document show what a flat-roofed extension behind the building would look like if it were converted into an outdoor terrace area.

The drawings show an overhead timber framework to shelter people from the rain, as well as benches and potted plants.

Oxford Mail:

George Street was pedestrianised during August. Picture: Ed Nix

A new elevator would also be installed behind the building to make the office accessible.

Under the council's plans, a total of 651 square meters of space within the building would become new open-plan office for small businesses.

In July, the council agreed a budget of £750,000 to fund the work on the building, partly funded by a grant from the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The council hopes the work can be completed by Spring 2021 if planning permission is granted.

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At the time, council leader Susan Brown said it was a 'good time to be doing this', as people often set up their own businesses following economic downturns.

Ms Brown said: "This is quite a normal situation when you have had a period of quite high unemployment, which is unfortunately what we seem to be hitting into."

See more at planning reference 20/02592/FUL