A plan to demolish two prominent Oxford city centre buildings and replace them with a new science hub has been given the go-ahead.

Beaver House, which is used as offices, and other buildings on Hythe Bridge Street, currently used as restaurants, will be replaced by a new life sciences building.

The site is close to the city’s train station and Oxford University’s Saïd Business School.

Oxford city councillors approved the project on Tuesday.

It also features a public garden, a cafe and a community space.

The new Bridge Labs would be part of the Forge Knowledge Platform, which also has facilities in Cambridge and Stevenage.