It may look as if the Abbey Shopping Centre has taken a risk building new retail space in the middle of the longest economic downturn most of have known …
but a study done for the Vale of White Horse Council, predicting what retail is needed in the longer view up to 2029, says the space is needed, as well as a new large supermarket in the town centre.
Last week the vale published the additional papers underpinning the main Local plan Document to 2029. The retail study says “High street national multiples have increasingly sought larger modern shop units (over 200 sq.m).”
We will all be glad to get some news about how the new retail space is to be used. Some rectification work has happened during the first three months since the main work was completed.
The study also looks at the viability of cinemas, theatres, bowling alleys, and bingo halls in the Vale area. It says a 2 screen 400 seat cinema could be viable, anything smaller would not be.
Local people can respond to the plan with their own views of what will work and be viable.
What is it with cinemas now. In Botley they want to build a new cinema, as part of the ‘refurbishment’ of the precinct. Demolish the Library/Hall/Baptist Church, and ‘relocate’ to an appropriate area.
They are determined to do it, even to the point of demoloshing a Care Home (They did want to demolish the Elms Parade, but family won’t sell). Meanwhile over the road, they are planning the ‘Seacourt Tower’ Industrial estate (Homebase and others used to be there) a better suited placement for a cinema, but (as yet) not included in the plans.
I think the first thing Abingdon needs to do is expand it’s road network. The town wont be able to cope with the future demands on traffic as it is. It’s clear Abingdon needs to expand past its boarders also to accommodate new housing and have space for any new projects like a cinema.
Would love to see Next, M&S, Monsoon – somewhere that people would make an effort to visit and does not rely on going to Oxford or Didcot. Traffic does need sorting though.
@Abingdon mum I think you will find Ybuynu did the name brand clothes as the shops you mentioned . They are closing so why would the other shops come to town .
Rob further expansion of Abingdon would be a disaster. We were only talking about total lack of parking spaces at Abingdon Hospital a little while ago. I booked an appointment with a nurse at a local G P’s surgery recently and was told that the soonest appointment they had was in two months time. We do not have the infrastructure to cope with a further expansion of the population. Do we really need further social housing? Sovereign Vale seem to be moving immigrant overspill from other areas into Abingdon. Obviously there is enough social housing for local people so they have to fill houses with people from other areas.
Fair point abbo man, but I still think that people want the “brand name” shops. Fat Face seems to be doing ok? I personally prefer the independents for my shopping – Mostly Books, Added Ingredients, OX14 Deli, etc…but that’s just me.
we’ll all be living in the internet by 2029! – no need to leave our cubicles.
I think Wilkinsons would do well in our town centre. It’s a popular ‘all-round’ shop.
@theOxonian I agree that Wilkinsons is a good shop but in its absence don’t forget that we have the wonderful Knights hardware shop – its just a little out of the centre on Ock Street, but not far -and has parking if you need to drive. Staff are very helpful, there is a great range of stuff and not everything is prepacked in massive quantities.
Re the local plan – it is mainly about setting the ground rules against which proposals for new develoments will be judged – it doesn’t have any influence over what specific companies wil come to the town.
The Friends of Abingdon are preparing our response to the consultation and would be happy to hear from people especially on issues like which areas or buildings they would like to see protected, what types of housing are needed, where it might go etc etc. If you have views on these which you would like us to represent please e-mail planning@friendsofabingdon.org.uk
Not been confirmed, but was it River Island who planned to move in, but pulled out because they couldn’t trade over Christmas. Is Ybuntu closed?, I thought they had just changed their name. To include Abingdon in the name?.
@Colin Yes you are right Ybuynu is closing and Abingdon Fashion is taking them over . I do not know why they was not popular they had kids clothes from £1 . I guess Abingdon was not ready for a new name on the block
Janet, where are you getting this idea about social housing from? The Vale council has a waiting list of applicants in urgent housing need. They have to have a local connection to get on the list. Homelessness is increasing again, in the Vale, as it is across the country as a result of ever more job losses, below cost- of- living wages and now some fairly ruthless benefit cuts. If Soveriegn really is taking in overspill from other areas it can only be as part of some reciprocal arrangement. Ever increasing house prices make it almost impossible for youngsters to get on the housing ladder. Believe me we need more social and more affordabl, low cost housing.
search topshop in abingdon… shows and address on bath street… FYI 🙂
at least 15 empty units now in Abingdon and no sign of anyone moving in….