The city’s magistrates' court, which was closed in January for vital improvement works, will remain shut until early November, the HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has confirmed. The building had been scheduled to reopen in July following work that included a roof replacement, but contractors identified further work was needed while refurbishments were under way.
Where hearings are being held
HMCTS said hearings normally listed at Oxford Magistrates' Court are being transferred to other hearing centres for the duration of the closure. Cases will continue to be heard at:
- Reading Magistrates' Court
- High Wycombe Magistrates' Court
- Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court
"We expect it to reopen in early November," HMCTS said, adding the site "continues to undergo vital repair works."
Why the delay and what it means locally
The additional works were identified during the initial phase of the improvement programme, which HMCTS said were required to ensure the site is "fit for public use" once reopened. The Oxford closure forms part of a wider Ministry of Justice maintenance package, a nationwide programme valued at £148.5m aimed at improving the condition of court buildings.
HMCTS has emphasised that work was accommodated at other court houses so no backlogs have been created. For local residents, however, the change means hearings, witness appearances and other court business scheduled for Oxford will take place outside the city until the building reopens.
Local impact and practical consequences
Moving cases to neighbouring courts may affect travel times and arrangements for defendants, witnesses, legal representatives and members of the public who would otherwise attend hearings in Oxford. The extension also delays the return of in-person services to the city’s own court building.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Original planned reopening | July (following ~six-month closure) |
| Revised reopening | Early November |
| Temporary hearing locations | Reading, High Wycombe, Milton Keynes Magistrates' Courts |
| National programme | £148.5m Ministry of Justice maintenance fund |
HMCTS characterised the works as essential to ensure the building is safe and accessible for everyone who uses it. No timetable beyond the "early November" reopening has been published; residents and legal professionals with hearings scheduled in Oxford should check notifications from the courts or their legal advisers for updated venue information.
The extended closure is a reminder of the age and maintenance needs of some court infrastructure nationally, and of the way local services can be disrupted while necessary repairs are completed. For the period of the closure, Oxfordshire residents affected by court business will need to plan for hearings at the alternative locations named by HMCTS.
