OZONE REIMAGINED
A community event is being launched to engage local residents, businesses and visitors in shaping the future of the Ozone Leisure Park.
The event, taking place at the Main Concourse of Ozone Leisure Park on 20 March from 2pm to 8pm, will offer an opportunity for the project team to engage with local residents, understand their priorities, and share thoughts, ideas, and aspirations for the site. It will also highlight proposed improvements and explore ways to create a more sustainable, welcoming and vibrant destination for the future.
The Ozone Leisure Park has long been a destination for people of all ages, offering entertainment, dining and leisure activities. Shifting trends in the leisure market have led to vacant units and the potential loss of key tenants. To ensure a vibrant future, the park must evolve – securing jobs, attracting investment and maintaining its family leisure offering. We would like to create a new employment opportunity on the site and use this investment to support new leisure opportunities for everyone to enjoy.
A spokesperson for Firoka Group, the owners of Ozone Leisure Park, said:
“The current facilities are no longer sustainable in their existing form. Many key tenants have benefited from reduced rent agreements over several years to ensure they could continue operating. However, to secure the long-term future of the park, investment and change are needed. With several tenancies ending soon, we are at a pivotal stage to re-invest in the site.
“We are delighted to be working with Pioneer Group to find a long-term solution that can ensure family leisure can be retained on site, as well as reimagining the sites connectivity to the local area, promoting new green and sustainable links and offering a range of new local employment opportunities for the long-term.”
James Latham, Director at Pioneer Group, added: “The Ozone Leisure Park has been an important part of the community, but to secure its long-term success, we need to adapt and improve. These community events will allow us to listen to the people who know and love the Ozone best, ensuring that any future changes reflect the needs of the local area.”
Through new investment, the scheme will generate at least 2,500 jobs on-site, providing opportunities from entry level through to technical and research professionals. Additionally, the investment will enhance local transport, with more public buses and financial support for the Cowley Branch Line. It will also provide more usable green space for the entire community to enjoy, with a focus on providing a safer, more secure environment – accessible and appealing to all.
Plans are being drawn up for a replacement cinema at a scale that will be attractive to operators, and Oxford-based community engagement specialists, Transition by Design, are exploring other ideas for valuable community amenities. The investment secured through this project will help ensure that the evolving mix of new and enhanced facilities remains sustainable in the long term.
Additionally, this investment will restore The Priory (Minchery Farmhouse) and put it back into a sustainable long-term use, taking it off Historic England’s “at-risk” register and ensuring its preservation for future generations.
PROJECT TEAM
Landowner
Development Manager
Architect
Community Engagement Lead
Public Relations Lead
Planning Consultant /Project Manager
GET IN TOUCH
If you’d like to get involved or learn more about the upcoming events, please contact us at:
Transition by Design Cooperative
Wongani Mwanza
consultation@ozonereimagined.com
01865 959 571
media contact
News release distributed on behalf of Pioneer Group by Marengo Communications. For interviews and media enquiries, please contact:
Nick Vose / George Parkinson
media@ozonereimagined.com
07854 908633 / 07379 541340
FAQs
The Ozone Leisure Park is unsustainable in its current form, with vacant units, short-term leases, and tenants relying on reduced rent agreements. To thrive, it must evolve with new and improved amenities, more public spaces, and community-focused facilities. Significant reinvestment is needed to secure its future, attract businesses and create jobs fit for the future.
Yes. Oxford-based community engagement specialists, Transition by Design, are actively exploring ideas for valuable community amenities to enhance inclusivity and accessibility across the site. Transition by Design is listening to the people who know and love the Ozone best, ensuring that any future changes reflect the needs of the local area and remain sustainable for the long term.
Our proposals aim to deliver a more balanced offer, with flexible leisure and community space delivered alongside commercial development. By reinvesting in the site, we can create an environment that supports both the growing community and the demand for a variety of community facilities. This includes adding more green spaces and diverse leisure options for everyone.
While the site may appear busy at times, the current facilities are outdated and no longer financially sustainable. Many tenants have been relying on reduced rent agreements, and with short-term leases and vacant units, the site struggles to attract long-term investment. To remain viable, the park requires significant reinvestment and modernisation to meet current demands and to secure its future.
No. The project will be a mixed-use site, featuring both lab and office space, alongside leisure and community spaces. The office and lab space is essential to fund the delivery and long-term success of the leisure and community spaces.
We want to hear from you about what types of leisure and community spaces you would like to see. For example, would the community like to see a continuation of a cinema space, or are there other uses that would be beneficial to consider?
We are considering a range of community facilities based on feedback and the needs of the local area. These may include flexible event spaces, areas for social gatherings, recreational facilities, and new green spaces. We are also exploring options for educational or cultural spaces, along with potential health and wellbeing services. Through the investment delivered by additional office and lab space, we can make these community spaces a reality. We are keen to hear from the community about what facilities would best serve their needs.
Plans are being drawn up for a replacement cinema at a scale that will be attractive to operators. The final decision on its inclusion will depend on community feedback and demand, but we are committed to ensuring that leisure options, including a cinema, are considered in the plans.
The redevelopment involves the existing leisure park area. It does not include the Kassam stadium or the car park.
No. This project is being led by Pioneer Group. It is not a University of Oxford development.
We know the existing site is popular among young people in the local area, which is why we are placing a strong emphasis on youth engagement and involvement. We are partnering with local schools and youth organisations to ensure that young people are actively involved in the design process and have a say in the leisure and community spaces being developed.
Yes. We are exploring ways to restore the building, possibly bringing the pub back into use and creating a mixed-use community space. We would like to hear from local groups and individuals about ideas for this heritage asset.
Come along to our upcoming drop in event on the 20 March. The event will be taking place at the Main Concourse of Ozone Leisure Park between 2pm and 8pm. The session will include:
• Discussions on challenges, opportunities, and community priorities for the future
• An overview of the regeneration project and key objectives
•Collaborative workshop sessions to gather insights and ideas
Your expertise and input will be invaluable in ensuring the project aligns with local needs and aspirations. We hope you can join us in shaping a positive and sustainable future for the Ozone and the wider area.
We will have further opportunities for community engagement in the coming months.