Jericho Wharf site in Oxford
Worcester College has completed the purchase of the long-derelict Jericho Wharf site, marking a significant breakthrough in efforts to regenerate one of Oxford’s most prominent brownfield sites after nearly two decades of inactivity.
The acquisition ends the ownership of Hong Kong-based developer Cheer Team, whose proposals for the former boatyard site repeatedly stalled despite receiving planning permission. That consent has since expired, leaving the canal-side site unused while calls for action intensified from local residents and community groups.
The purchase follows a decisive intervention by Oxford City Council earlier this year. In March, councillors approved steps towards using a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) if necessary, arguing that the lack of progress on the site could no longer continue.
Deputy Leader Councillor Ed Turner said at the time that the Council’s “patience is at an end”, signalling that alternative options would be pursued if redevelopment did not move forward.
Shortly afterwards, Cheer Team agreed to sell the site.
In announcing the acquisition, Worcester College described the purchase as “the beginning of an exciting new chapter” for the historic site.
The College said it intends to bring Jericho Wharf back into productive use through “a carefully considered redevelopment that respects its heritage and contributes positively to the local area.”
Recognising the strong local interest in the site’s future, the College said it will engage with residents and stakeholders over the coming months before developing detailed proposals that seek to balance the College’s long-term needs with the aspirations of the wider neighbourhood.
The announcement has been warmly welcomed by the Jericho Wharf Trust, which has campaigned for many years for community-led redevelopment.
Trustee David Edwards said the purchase represented the first real hope in more than a decade that the site could be developed in the interests of both Worcester College and the local community.
The Trust has worked alongside the College and Oxford City Council over the past 18 months to help unlock the future of the site, including supporting the Council’s exploration of compulsory purchase powers.
The Trust hopes future plans will include a new community centre, a working boatyard, public square, improved public access to the canal, provision for a new canal crossing and a mix of new homes in line with Oxford’s Local Plan.
Community consultation is expected to begin in the coming months, with Worcester College and the Jericho Wharf Trust planning a public meeting later this year to discuss emerging proposals.
The Jericho Wharf site occupies a prominent position alongside the Oxford Canal, adjacent to Worcester College. Its redevelopment has long been viewed as an opportunity to provide new homes, community facilities and improved public spaces while reconnecting an important part of Jericho with the canal.
With ownership now transferred, attention will turn to how the College’s proposals evolve through consultation with residents, the City Council and other stakeholders before any future planning application is submitted.
