There is currently a planning application to split what was “Stroll In” in two. “Stroll In” closed in Februray 2011 and has been empty since.
The architect planning the changes argues that before about the 1970s, when some major structural alterations were made to remove walls and replace them with beams and pillars, there were two shops on this site – one with a frontage on Stert Street, one on the Market Place.
“Stroll In” did always seem an odd shape and that could explain it.
The upstairs space will also be divided into five apartments. Although there is no on street parking, more cycle storage will be provided, and tenants may be able to apply to join the Vale of White Horse Residents Parking Scheme using the Cattle Market and Abbey Meadow Car Parks.
What were the upstairs rooms formerly used for? Is this another change of use just to get more council tax?
The first floor has been storage and the upper floor is already two flats. The flats have been let to local people who walk to work within 3 minutes of their front door.
The building is owned by a Trust who have no interest in council tax so I am not sure what your comment refers to. They are however interested in getting a good long term tenant for the shop and offering affordable accommodation to local people.
The Trust has BlueDoor as their agents as they know that this company treats tenants fairly and also charges fair fees to landlords.
The more housing we can get out of existing town centre buildings the better.
As long as it is used again the better it will be.
re Kat P. Your comment on the Toy shop topic helps my understanding a lot. Thanks. The trust’s action is admirable. My point is that if the town keeps putting housing in everywhere there was once commercial premises there won’t be (isn’t) any space for larger stores. Remember we did have space in the market/station, cinema and brewery, and the post office. Not to mention the Old Gaol. Braggs was once a multi floor shop. Beadles has gone……..Is it time to stop and think where the town, nearly as big as Banbury, is going and what we want to be?
Or are doomed to be a suburb of Oxford?
I wish the new shop owners all the best we have had a couple of new shop open this year . I have spoken to some of the new owners and they are really struggling bless em
Great post Rachel about how good Blue Door letting is but I feel that if you want to advertise your business you should pay for it and let’s face it lettings agents don’t care about local people they care about letting properties