Category Archives: planning

Bury Street Square: Proposed Kiosk and Café Redevelopment


The town council planning committee is meeting tonight to review several proposals, including one for redeveloping a small square in Bury Street, the one with the trees and kiosks. This area was left untouched during the previous redevelopment of Bury Street.

The proposed plans would demolish one kiosk (currently Phone Box) and build two new kiosks. It would combine and extend units 19a (currently Khush’s Brow Boutique) and 20 (currently Timpson) to create a café with outdoor seating.

The larger tree (a Maple) would be kept, while the smaller tree (a Cherry) would be removed and replaced with planters.

The plans also include new benches, planters – one with a sculpture, new paving, and a mural on the high wall above the store being used for prom dresses.

On Broad Street, a featureless brick wall would become a community wall featuring art by local people.

For more information see: P25/V0236/FUL

A ‘Big Step Forward’ with ‘Ambitious’, ‘Innovative’, ‘Ground-Breaking’ Joint Local Plan


A plan for the future of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse, the first joint plan, is now ready for six weeks of public review. It plans for housing, jobs, and infrastructure needs up to 2041 and will supersede the existing separate plans that go to 2031.

The plan prioritises existing developments, protecting greenfield sites. The only proposed expansion is at Dalton Barracks near Abingdon owned by the Ministry of Defence.

Council leaders are very enthusiastic in their press release.

Councillor Bethia Thomas (Vale of White Horse): “It’s a big step forward for our communities that we’re at this stage earlier than anticipated…”

Councillor David Rouane (South Oxfordshire): “We’re one step closer to adopting this ground-breaking plan with policies such as increasing the proportion of affordable housing on large sites…”

Councillor Anne-Marie Simpson (South Oxfordshire): “This is an ambitious and innovative plan…”

Councillor Andy Foulsham (Vale of White Horse): “I’m proud of this plan and how it looks to tackle the climate emergency…”

Visit https://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/vale-of-white-horse-district-council/planning-and-development/local-plan-and-planning-policies/local-plan-2041/ to review the Joint Local Plan and submit your comments before November 12th.

A House or Amenity Land?


Someone wants to build a house between Stratton Way and Withington Court on amenity land. This area is privately owned but has been used by the public for 50 years.

The part on Stratton Way has a bench and flower bed maintained by the council.

It is separated by a wall from the other part that was wild and green. The owner has cleared this area already, but the picture shows what it was like.

The Vale of White Horse District Council will decide and are open to public comments. Web comments can be made until 20th January 2024. See https://data.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/Main.jsp?MODULE=ApplicationDetails&REF=P23/V2848/O#exactline.

Neighbourhood Plan – final three topics for consultation


The people of Abingdon are invited to comment on three more topics for the neighbourhood plan. They are:
* Travel, access and movement (A 20 MPH limit has already been requested by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council. The neighbourhood plan has a map of proposed changes to encourage cycling and pedestrians along many of the town’s through roads. )
* Business and employment (Allow more integrated employment close to people’s homes. This is in addition to the current business parks, shopping areas, schools and health centres.)
* Families and young people (Encourage pupils to walk and cycle to school with play-on-the-way schemes and hangout places.)

People can still comment on the other three topics.

After this consultation, the neighbourhood plan will be submitted for an independent examination to ensure it is complete.

The plan would then be put forward to an Abingdon-wide referendum next year. If adopted, the plan would influence planning decisions and help set the agenda for council actions and decisions over the next fifteen years.

To comment on any of the topics, visit https://www.abingdon-neighbourhood-plan.org/.