Public consultation on proposals for the regeneration of a brownfield site on Abingdon Road, Didcot
Martin’s Properties are undertaking a public consultation on proposals for the regeneration of a brownfield site on Abingdon Road.
The site is occupied by the remains of a former gas holder, which was demolished around ten years ago, and a derelict office building. The proposals will deliver a new discount supermarket alongside other commercial space, in a sustainable manner, significantly improving the appearance of this derelict site, increasing local facilities and responding positively to the planned new housing development on the opposite side of Abingdon Road.
Location of the site
The brownfield site as it appears now
Our proposals
Our proposals for bringing this brownfield site back into active use would create up to 60 jobs once completed, alongside additional employment during construction, and with good opportunities for these jobs to be sourced locally. The proposals include replacing the current derelict buildings with:
A discount food store
A flexible commercial building that could be a restaurant, café, or takeaway
A self-storage business
New green landscaping and tree planting within and around the edge of the site
An increase in the biodiversity and habitat value of the site of at least 10%
Parking for cars and bicycles, including electric vehicle charging
Being a good neighbour
Our proposed regeneration of this brownfield site will be designed to minimise any impact on our nearest neighbours:
New green landscaping and tree planting within and around the edge of the site
A considerate lighting strategy to prevent light pollution spilling out of the site
The supermarket and standalone unit would be single-storey buildings with no risk of overlooking
The self-storage unit would be taller, but set farther from nearby homes, avoiding any impact on their daylight or sunlight, and with no windows overlooking neighbouring properties
Site drainage would be improved compared to present conditions
More choice and lower prices
Didcot is a growing town. In addition to the 750 homes to be built on the land immediately opposite the site, there is a Local Plan allocation for an extension to the town of more than 2,000 homes north along Abingdon Road. While Didcot does have food stores, this growth means that there is now demand for another discount supermarket.
Not only will a new discount supermarket help to meet this demand, but it will benefit the town as a whole by providing more competition, increasing choice and keeping prices low.
Commitment to sustainability
The proposed development will minimise its environmental impact by:
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Achieving a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating – meeting strict standards in areas such as energy efficiency, water usage, construction and waste management
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Adhering to Martin’s Properties own Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies, which include minimum EPC ratings, inclusion of renewable energy technologies, and Whole Life Carbon assessments to make sure the environmental impact of the proposed development is minimized across its lifecycle, from construction through to operation and eventual decommissioning
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Complying with South Oxfordshire’s policy on sustainable design and construction requirements, which include maximising energy efficiency, incorporating renewable energy sources, using recycled and reused materials, and ensuring future adaptability and flexibility for future occupiers
Accessing the site
Sustainable transport
The new food store will be a short walk or bike ride from thousands of residents, especially once the new homes on the other side of Abingdon Road are built and occupied. The new residential development will also create a new network of footways and cycle routes, and new crossings over Abingdon Road and Hadden Hill.
Cycle parking will be provided to encourage staff and customers to arrive by bike – 18 Sheffield stands, with space for 36 bikes.
There are also a number of bus stops within walking distance, with the closest located on Broadway approximately 150m south-west of the Abingdon Road/Hadden Hill roundabout.
Arriving by car
The site will be accessed from Abingdon Road, using the existing junction. A full Transport Assessment will be submitted with the planning application, which will consider the impact on local roads and roundabouts. Parking will be provided for up to 131 cars, including electric vehicle charging.
Deliveries
There would be relatively few lorry movements, with the budget food store typically receiving only one or two deliveries per day.
About Martin’s Properties
Established in 1946, Martin’s Properties is a family-owned property company operating across the South East of England. With a focus on creating and managing sustainable, well-designed buildings, we strive to ensure that all our developments meet the needs of our customers and stakeholders and contribute to the communities in which we work.
We believe that we have an obligation to protect and support our communities, people, environment and heritage through proactive policy and an inclusive approach.