Taylor & Francis Pre-Lets Entire 30,000 Sq ft Cantay House in Central Oxford

Elwood Fund Management secures leading academic publishing occupier for the whole building during early stages of construction works

OXFORD, UNITED KINGDOM, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ --
Elwood Fund Management, in partnership with Landid has pre-let the entirety of their central Oxford office development, Cantay House, to Taylor & Francis, a leading international academic publisher.

Taylor & Francis, which employs around 2,400 people across 15 countries, will occupy all of the approximately 30,000 sq ft building on completion, transforming it into its main office. The project which started on site in June is due to complete in Q2 2027, with Spratley & Partners as architect and Kingerlee the lead contractor.

Originally designed in 1901 by Oxford architect H.J. Tollit, Cantay House is a red-brick period building in the city's West End, close to Oxford railway station and the city centre. The redevelopment and refurbishment will create a highly sustainable building, whilst retaining as much of its original character as possible.

Russell Black, Head of Asset Management at Elwood Fund Management, said: “Securing Taylor & Francis for the whole of Cantay House soon after committing to the main construction contract is a strong endorsement of both the building and our approach to its repositioning. The successful pre-letting further supports our belief in the strength of those markets which are strong in the knowledge economy and innovation. Our objective is to retain the character that makes Cantay House distinctive while substantially improving its environmental performance, services and amenity. This agreement gives us the opportunity to deliver that vision for a major long-term occupier.”

James Silver, Managing Director at Landid, added: “Cantay House presents an unusual opportunity to create modern office space within a building with genuine architectural character in the centre of Oxford. The design has been led by the existing building rather than working against it, retaining its period qualities while making significant interventions to its services, circulation and shared spaces.

“Having this commitment from Taylor & Francis so early in the project will enable us to move forward with a clear understanding of how the completed building will be occupied to best fit their needs.”

Once completed the building will target BREEAM Excellent and an EPC A rating. There will be a reconfigured core and circulation areas, alongside a new reception, communal ground floor courtyard and second-floor terrace. Cantay House will also provide 40 cycle spaces and seven parking spaces.

Stuart Blackley, Executive Vice President of Operations at Taylor & Francis, said: “Taylor & Francis is excited for our move to Cantay House, placing the main office of our global publishing business right in the centre of Oxford. Cantay House represents an incredible opportunity to create a modern office environment for our colleagues and also to provide accessible spaces where local and international researchers, and members of the public, can engage with academic and professional knowledge in ways that will benefit our authors, partners, and the local economy.”

Savills advised Elwood Fund Management. JLL acted on behalf of Taylor & Francis.

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Additional Material:
Selected images available here: https://we.tl/t-OucyAuRHQxBscVfp

Cantay House website: www.cantayoxford.co.uk


About Elwood Fund Management

Elwood is a specialist real estate investment manager focused on delivering high-performing assets within the UK’s innovation economy.

Partnering with institutional investors to identify, develop and manage places where knowledge-led businesses can thrive – Elwood creates long-term value through disciplined investment, hands-on execution and deep sector expertise.

We prioritise locations and assets that support knowledge-intensive sectors - particularly within the UK’s ‘Golden Triangle’ of London, Oxford and Cambridge.

www.elwoodfunds.com

Sarah Brereton
Limewash
sarah@limewash.co.uk