The Premier Inn on Marcham Road is watertight. Work to install lifts and electricals is progressing inside. Aluminium-coloured cladding has been added to the external walls of the first and second storeys. The building replaces the Tesco Garden Centre.

The new flats near Hartwells, off Drayton Road, are also watertight. A channel to provide services has been dug, and the top of the buildings has been decorated with wood cladding. This building replaces Ladygrove Cottage.

Foundations have been dug for another 8 flats on Drayton Road. The flats replace the Poplars, a house with stone lions on the gateposts and some vigorous pampas grass.

Alongside Twelve Acre Drive, trees were cut recently. There are two wide gaps.  

The cut trees line up with the access roads in what will become the next North Abingdon development. The development, near Peachcroft Farm, got outline planning permission in 2017 to include 371 residential dwellings, pavilions and sports pitches. More details were made public a year ago at https://www.bellway-northabingdon.co.uk/. That was followed by a detailed application REF=P22/V0680/RM a year ago, which, after discharging several conditions, was approved in February 2023. So work has begun.

Planning application P23/V0469/LB involves alterations and change of use to create a mixed development comprising a retail unit and 9 flats.

This involves 22 Stert Street, part of which is a listed building. Previously, this was used for retail on the ground floor and residential on the upper floors. The retail area, which is declining, would get a revamp as a consequence.

It also involves 20 Queen Street, previously used by a butcher on the ground floor, and a fitness studio upstairs. So this is the change of use. The undercroft used by the butcher for their vans would be parking for the shop. But the rest of the accommodation would be car-free and bike only.

At the Abbey Fields housing development in North Abingdon, an information board shows some town facilities and their distance, including a 35-minute walk to Abingdon High Street and the River Thames.

Since my last visit Mobbs Row has appeared, named after Mobbs shoe shop.

The housing estate is divided into two large areas. One is being developed. The other has the infrastructure but no houses yet. There has been conjecture that the rate of progress will be slowed as housebuilding output is predicted to fall this year. That is because of rising mortgage rates, falling real wages and poor consumer confidence.

Some finished houses are for sale and ready to be moved into.

Building work also continues at the Kings Gate development.

On a previous visit, Hobby Green was fenced off, but now the green is visible. It is dedicated to former Mayor and Dunmore School teacher Pat Hobby.