The building previously known as New Abbey Court is being converted from offices into a total of 32 flats. The original planning application for this building submitted in 2013 was more radical and involved a rebuild, and was objected to by a number of local people including the Friends of Abingdon Civic Society.

The new plans do not change the look of the buildings apart from creating an additional entrance from Old Station Yard. The scaffold has been put up to allow the external building to be given a facelift.

There will only be parking for three cars and so most of the new tenants will either not have cars or need somewhere to park in the town centre. The approved plans for 32 flats can be seen at P17/V2427/PDO. Some of the flats do look quite small – they start from 31 square metres. Further plans for the minor external changes were submitted earlier this month.

New Abbey Court  contained a number of offices round a gated courtyard, and was built in the mid 1980s, after 55-59 Stert Street were demolished. I believe The Abbey Press was at number 57 for some time; Burgess (Abingdon) Ltd were at number 55 until 1961. Then number 55 was converted to a shop called Deaney’s – possibly furniture. The Registrar and Public Assistance offices were at number 59 for some time.

The Vale of White Horse District Council has announced it is intending to build Council housing in place of Old Abbey House in the centre of Abingdon.

Using financial contributions from the nearby Old Gaol, where there was no social housing, the council plans to redevelop the former council offices at Old Abbey House.

The proposal for Council Housing on the site will help provide homes for local residents on the Council’s own waiting list.

This is subject to getting formal approval from the council, and planning permission.

The release of the airfield and Dalton Barracks by the Ministry of Defence has provided a ‘Brown Field’ site to help meet the needs for new homes in the Vale of White Horse District, and Oxford City nearby. Oxford has not met the new housing quota set by central government.

1,200 houses could be built at Dalton barracks. That would increase the size of Shippon 3 or 4 times. Shippon is the closest village to Abingdon. It is separated from Abingdon by the width of the A34, and has army housing and the barracks, with the older village nearby,

including the Prince of Wales pub and St Mary Magdalene church.

The part 2 of the Vale plan also includes 600 houses near Kingston Bagpuize with Southmoor, and smaller housing developments in Marcham and East Hanney. The plan will be ratified in 2018.