The five-million-pound conversion of Oxford city centre’s neo-Gothic NatWest Bank building is "making good progress."

Local award-winning construction firm, Beard, is transforming the bank on 120-122 High Street into luxury apartments and an upmarket restaurant.

The project, which is for Lincoln College, is due to be completed this November and many of the building's original features are being restored.

Jonathan Brock, project manager, said: "It’s great for our experienced project team to be playing a part in repurposing and breathing new life into this wonderful historic building.”

The restaurant that will be moving in will be a branch of The Ivy.

Lincoln College bought the Grade II-listed building from the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2013.

Oxford Mail:

It was originally built in the 1860s as two separate properties, housing J Russell & Co’s piano shop whose shopfront is currently being reinstated and the London and County Bank.

So far, Beard has started work on the ground floor restaurant conversion.

Mr Brock said: "Construction is also progressing well on the conversion of the upper floors into high quality apartments and the creation of a residential entrance from Alfred Street. The next important phase of the project will be completing the structural alterations and roofing repairs."

Alex Spain, Bursar at Lincoln College says: “We are pleased to be working with Beard in the renovation of this historic building.”