1-3 Ock Street has its own blog – written by Chris Wilshurst of Kemp & Kemp.

In July 2012 he wrote “Who would have thought it. 35 years ago I was involved in the acquisition of an office building in Abingdon, on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council and today that very same building is now owned by my business partner and me.”


Chris writes about the building “Over the years the building has become institutionalised with fire doors, signage, security doors and systems, anaglypta wall paper, magnolia paint, surface wiring and general neglect. We cannot ignore safety and other regulation but we do want to return the building to its former glory, restoring some of the original features as well as rendering the building ‘fit for purpose’ as a modern office environment.”

This week Chris shows the stripping away of plastic trunking and some recent discoveries.

This is not just a blog about restoring a fine old building, it is also an exploration of the people who once lived there. We learn about R D’Almaine whose name is on the war memorial in the Square down below.

Children from Rush Common School visited to find out about the history of the old building and some of their pieces are included in the blog.

Visit 1-3 Ock Street Abingdon to find out more.

Today began the 4 day planning appeal by Hallam, of Sheffield, against the decision of the Vale of White Horse District Council to refuse planning permission for 160 homes in a field south of Abingdon-on-Thames.

The QC representing Hallam was well polished in his opening submission. He produced a printed opening brief. It said that 64 of the dwelling (40%) will be affordable. That the council has been unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing.

Regarding highways, Hallam have modelled the Drayton Road mini roundabout, and suggest moving the pedestrian crossing to the other side will help accomodate the extra traffic. But the polish did perhaps hide a lack of local knowledge. For example regarding disposal of foul sewage he said that “Servern Trent have no objection to the proposals subject to appropriate conditions.”

The magistrate representing the council had no printed opening submission, and seemed less polished but better briefed on the local traffic situation. He talked about the damage done to the Lime Trees bordering the site. He said we are in a temporary period where there is not a five years supply of housing, and this will be rectified by 2014. He said that the traffic models produced by Hallam did not correspond with reality and that moving the pedestrian crossing was not an option on grounds of safety and convenience. Another effect of this change would be to have traffic backing up along Ock Street into an air quality management area.

So over the next 4 days, 3 expert witnesses will be called by Hallam (for planning, environment, and highways). 4 expert witnesses will be called by the district council (for the same areas).

On Thursday at 10:10 Nicola Blackwood MP speaks as an interested party. More expert witnesses follow her. Then from 16:10 on Thursday more local interested parties will speak.

On Friday morning closing submissions will be made, and the pre conditions decided should the development be allowed.

The final decision is likely to be in August. The Inspector said he had an open mind at the outset. In this case, he will be looking to balance the benefits of more housing against the harm. For him the key issues are: the location being outside a settlement, the traffic, landscape, and the need for housing.

The Boundary House pub sign is a reminder that this very popular pub was once the house of Cecil Kimber – the Managing Director of MG Cars. Plans for a new sign with no picture – just writing – has been proposed by Greene King and then withdrawn.

Behind the sign – high in the trees – can be seen a prominent rookery.

 A little further down Oxford Road – at number 40 – trees have just been cleared and are being offered as free firewood. The house suffers from a severe lean and will soon be demolished and replaced with a four bedroom house – not the usual over development that has become commonplace.

At the new Tesco Extra – where the Ox once stood – I see they have got a cashpoint installed. It was the one thing that got rejected when the original planning application went in to change from pub to shop.