2021 was the second year of the Covid-19 pandemic. Government restrictions continued to change how businesses could operate.

Press on Changes in 2021 for a bigger (pdf) version of the map showing the changes.

Key:
Green is a shop that was vacant at the start of the year which is now occupied.
Yellow means a change of business.
Red is a vacant shop premises that was occupied at the start of the year.

Change in 2007 ( 6 green, 5 yellow, 10 red ) – Net Loss 4
Change in 2008 ( 10 green, 8 yellow, 13 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2009 ( 9 green, 6 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2010 ( 9 green, 6 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Gain 4
Change in 2011 ( 2 green, 8 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2012 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 1
Change in 2013 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0
Change in 2014 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0
Change in 2015 ( 6 green, 8 yellow, 6 red ) – Net Change 0
Change in 2016 ( 10 green, 5 yellow, 5 red ) – Net Gain 5
Change in 2017 ( 3 green, 6 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 4
Change in 2018 ( 7 green, 6 yellow, 4 red ) – Net Gain 3
Change in 2019 ( 4 green, 3 yellow, 7 red ) – Net Loss 3
Change in 2020 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 8 red) – Net Loss 2
Change in 2021 ( 6 green, 1 yellow, 8 red) – Net Loss 2

Welcome to:

Missing Bean
Natty Nails
Starbucks
T△H△

Some businesses moved within the town centre:
Willow Shakeshop
Newbury Building Society,

Goodbye to:
Little Tea Room
Prices

The following closed at the end of 2020 or early 2021 but have been put down as 2021 closures:
Ebony Marni
Gifts and Gallery
Peacocks
Ox Vapours

Change to business in same premises
Av Boats took over from the Abingdon Boat Centre

(let me know any mistakes in this annual roundup)

The Shed will soon be opening at the Willow’s Shakeshop old premises. Masons in Stert Street is the oldest shop operating from the same premises.

Poundland continues to love Abingdon and be popular. The big shop opposite (Peacocks) is now empty.

Michael sent some pictures of Bella Rita’s new Italian ceramic shop next to Seeneys in Stratton Way. He says they could do with some publicity – not many people have found them yet.

They’ve got some nice designs, mainly fruit, vegetables, flowers etc. and Christmas designs but some more artistic items. They also have leather handbags.

He says I’m now the proud owner of the large blue plate in the window display!

Back in 2007 Tesco wanted to expand the store to use the old garden centre. The garden centre was closed 10 years ago in 2011 and has been loosing roof tiles since then.

Two years ago Travelodge proposed putting a hotel on the site. Now, rival chain, Premier Inn have adapted the plans and have got planning permission for a hotel with 85 rooms.

There is already a Premier Inn half a mile away behind the Ock MIll Beefeater restaurant.

The VWHDC (Vale of White Horse District Council) planning committee unanimously approved the application for an Aldi store on the Wootton Road.

Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council supported the application as did local councillors speaking at the meeting. 290 people wrote in supporting the application. 13 were against.

The main advantage to locals is a large store nearer north Abingdon and Whitecross and Wootton, which should cut down on the need to travel, and could cut down on traffic round Abingdon.

The main concerns were cycling and access. The current cycle path is used by school children coming from Wootton, and area, and will not be expanded to the recommended width for such a development. The cycle path will also be impeded by the new store junctions. The right turn out of the store could also cause queues.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby said this development does mean a change of policy for VWHDC who in recent years have ensured new supermarkets were built in town centres, not out of town, for reasons of town centre vitality. The empty Peacock store in Abingdon town centre could be expanded to 929 sq.m (currently 738 sq.m). The new Aldi is 1,315 sq.m.