Systra steers direction of transport debate

The future look of towns and cities was discussed in front of more than 200 transport professionals at the annual Transport Practitioners’ Meeting in Oxford this month. Thames Tap partner Systra was sponsor of the event and its sector director Annette Smith, from the Thames Valley office in Reading, chaired sessions on Healthy Streets and Active Travel at the two-day conference on July 5 and 6. How people will travel and in what vehicles, was up for debate along with the influence of

Hundreds visit Oxford North consultation

More than 200 people visited two public exhibitions on the massive Oxford North development in early July. The consultation at Oxford Town Hall on the mixed-use scheme involving 87,000 sq m of workspace, 480 homes, a hotel and much more was put on over two days by Thomas White Oxford, on behalf of St John’s College. An outline planning application for the overall masterplan will be submitted soon along with an application for detailed consent for the first phase.​ Julian Barwick, project

Lichfields to assess Cotswolds Garden Village options

The Thames Valley office of planners Lichfields will produce an economic vision for a 2,200-home garden village in Oxfordshire. The planned Oxfordshire Cotswolds Garden Village, north of the A40 near Eynsham, has provision for 40-hectares of business land and Lichfields will evaluate development options for it. Options include a campus-style science park or a more mixed development with a more varied range of jobs. West Oxfordshire Council wants the development to integrate with existing

Motorway services, offices and warehouse scheme refused

Councillors have thrown out plans for a motorway service station with office and warehouse buildings at J11 of the M40 at Banbury. Monte Blackburn, which seeks land for Euro Garages for service stations, had proposed a service area with petrol station plus a 22, 150 sq m warehouse building and two three-storey office buildings of 3,716 sq m each on a 12.3-hectare site north east of the junction. An initial proposal to include an 80-room hotel was withdrawn during the planning process. But

Huge Oxford North scheme unveiled

Massive plans for a development north of Oxford have been unveiled offering 87,000 sq m of commercial space, £100 million of infrastructure investment and almost 500 homes. Oxford North, a proposed new urban district, previously known as Northern Gateway, goes on display in over two days of public exhibitions on July 2 and 4. The scheme, by St John’s College, Oxford, is being led by its own subsidiary, Thomas White Oxford which owns much of the 64 acres. As well as the 87,000 sq m of workspace

283-home Radley plans deferred

Plans for 283 homes near Radley in Oxfordshire have been deferred. Vale of White Horse District Council’s planning committee wanted a viability assessment after applicant, Redrow, changed the mix of homes during the application process. The application for the 10.79-hectare site had been recommended for approval despite scores of objections, both to the existing and previous plans. The site, which is in the Radley parish but close to Kennington, was removed from the Green Belt to allow for

Work starts on CaMkOx rebrand

Bidwells has produced its second research document on the Cambridge to Oxford arc with a focus on rebranding the route. Work has begun on an economic vision for the proposed road and rail transport corridors between the two world-renowned university cities and Bidwells, which has offices in both and another in Milton Keynes, is at the centre of the debate. In a blog post, Ben Lee, communications boss for the property consultancy, highlights diverse views over the current name for the project,

Top names in line up for TvPropFest

BBC business journalist Tanya Beckett will interview one of the key figures driving radical plans for Reading’s new cultural quarter at the first Thames Valley Property Festival (TvPropFest). The interview - with Sally Swift, director of Theatre & Arts Reading - will be among the highlights of a day of walks, talks, awards and music, celebrating some of the most exciting property developments in the region and discussing many of the concerns in the rapidly-evolving industry. There will also be

Hi-tech deal is Oxfordshire's biggest in 2018

Retail IT provider KFP has signed up to be the first occupier of a new development at Abingdon Business Park. The firm, an existing occupier on the park, is to move from 4,000 sq ft at Blacklands Way into 14,500 sq ft of new tech space at Unit 4 of Foxcombe. A 10-year lease was signed the day after the new development was completed. Foxcombe is a development of 49, 317 sq ft of hi-tech space within the 50-acre park. Three Foxcombe units remain available. Tom Barton, director at commercial

283 homes looks set for approval

Redrow’s plans for 283 homes near Radley look likely to be approved this evening (Monday, June 18). Plans for the 10.79-hectare site off Kennington Road, just outside Oxford, go before councillors at Vale of White Horse District Council with a recommendation for approval despite scores of objections, both to the current and previous plans. The site, which is in the Radley parish but close to Kennington, was removed from the Green Belt to allow for housing. Thirty-five per cent of the homes,

240 homes near Benson set for approval

Plans for 240 homes near Benson look set to be approved on Wednesday (June 13). Officers at South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) have recommended approval for the development by David Wilson Homes, submitted by planners, Turley, on 12.86 hectares of agricultural land to the north east of Benson, close to Watlington Road. They will range from one bedroom to four and 40 per cent will be affordable. The precise mix is likely to be part of a reserved matters application. The 30 responses

Four lettings at Abingdon Business Park

Four new occupiers have signed up for space at Abingdon Business Park. Analytical instrument manufacturer Hitachi Hi-Tech has set up a new European headquarters at Windrush Court on the 50-acre site. It has agreed a five-year lease on 3,600 sq ft. of offices at £17.50 per sq ft. Hitachi Hi-Tech was represented by Core Consult. Chartered accountancy firm Ross Brooke has taken 3,000 sq ft, also at Windrush Court, on a five-year lease at £17.50 per sq ft. and will move from its current location

Two lettings at Thorney Leys Business Park, Witney

Two new occupiers have have signed up for a total 6,623 sq ft at Thorney Leys Business Park in Witney. Daniels Healthcare and Courtiers Group Holdings have each taken refurbished units on the Oxfordshire park. Just one further refurbished unit remains available. Jon Silversides, partner at Carter Jonas which acted for Thorney Leys Developments, said the lettings prove the refurbishment was the correct decision. He added: “We have seen a reduction in supply of quality stock in the market as a

Contractors sought for Graven Hill self-build scheme

A framework of contractors is being set up to work on the UK’s biggest self-build housing site. Work is well under way on the 1,900-home Graven Hill in North Oxfordshire and now the Graven Hill Village Development Company is seeking expressions of interest from what it describes as ‘suitably qualified, experienced and forward-thinking ground workers and external works contractors’ to work over the next four years. Plots are sold on a ‘Golden Brick’ basis where Graven Hill provides the serviced

Plans submitted for new secondary school in Oxford

Plans have been submitted for a long-awaited new secondary school in Oxford. The 1,260-pupil Swan School is earmarked for land currently used by Meadowbrook College, an educational provision for pupils excluded from mainstream schools. However Meadowbrook will be rehoused in a new building on the site. The development will also take some of the playing field of nearby St Nicholas Primary School but new sports pitches will be created to replace it. Plans, submitted to Oxford City Council, for

New marina planned at Cholsey

A new 280-boat marina is being planned between Cholsey and Wallingford. Specialist developer and aggregates business, London Rock Supplies, based in Borehamwood, has applied to Oxfordshire County Council to build the marina on the west bank of the Thames at White Cross Farm, Reading Road, Cholsey. The proposal is a joint venture with the landowner which they are calling the The White Cross Project. Partnership. Development of the 19-hectare site, currently arable and grazing land with no

240-home Radley scheme recommended for approval

Councillors have been recommended to grant planning permission for up to 240 homes on land north west of Radley, Oxfordshire. Vale of White Horse District Council, planning committee votes on Wednesday, May 30 on the plans submitted by Radley College. The 13.54-hectare site - two fields currently used for arable farming - had been removed from the Oxford Green Belt by the council so that it could be allocated for housing in the Local Plan 2031. Now the college wants to build homes of up to

Guests' grandstand view of Park Drive East

Oxfordshire’s largest speculative development for several years was unveiled to around 70 guests last week. Park Drive East at Milton Park, three buildings of office, high-tech and laboratory space, was celebrated by a guest appearance by Phil Burt, head physio for Team GB and Sky cycling teams, who explained how innovation and technology was used in the success of both set ups. Delegates were largely property professionals including agents from the Oxfordshire, Thames Valley and London areas.

Months more delay for 245-home Emmer Green scheme

The battle over plans for 245 homes in Emmer Green looks set to roll on into the Autumn. Gladman Developments is appealing South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) refusal of its scheme to build on land on the border with Reading. The appeal hearing began earlier this month but SODC has recently announced it can now demonstrate a five-year land supply and Gladman has been given until August 29 to prepare its case for challenging the council. The appeal will reconvene after that date and

Mothercare closures in the Thames Valley

A tweet of a leaked list of Mothercare stores to close shows several branches in the Thames Valley. The retailer is carrying out a series of closures and rent reductions through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). The tweet by Glasgow-based Ditchfield Property (@DitchProp) suggests the longstanding outlet in King Street, Reading along with others in Guildford, Aldershot and Newbury are on the list of 50 which will close over the next 12 months while those where a rent reduction is to be