£250k bid to protect Oxfordshire shop from unwanted development fails

Watlington Community Property wanted to list No 2 High Street, which is currently under offer, to protect it from unwanted development.

However, the district council turned down the application.

Phil Barker, the director of communities for the district council, explained the decision.

He said: “The letting policy was provided and it outlines how the group will manage any future letting.

“It mentions the group’s objectives but without the governing document in view, it is unclear what those objectives and aims are or if they will meet the social well-being or social interests of the local community.

“Although the nominator has demonstrated how they will look to raise funds and manage the building in the future, they have not demonstrated how the building could further the social well-being or social interests of the local community.

High Street, Watlington (Image: Google Street View)

“The nature of the nomination seems more aimed towards an interest in commercial stores for the community, rather than commercial stores for the benefit of social wellbeing or social interests for the community.”

Bella Luce lighting, which was in the building, closed at the end of January.

Members of the group want to buy it to determine how it is used in the future.

Steph Van de Pette, of Spring Lane, has lived in Watlington for about 11 years and owns SO Sustainable in High Street.

She set up her zero-waste refill shop in 2019 next door to Bella Luce.

Mrs Van de Pette is the secretary for the group, founding it with John Riddell, who owns the Spire and Spoke pub in Hill Lane, and Jess Carlisle, whose father Mark owned the building before he died last year.

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Watlington (Image: Contribution.)

The trio are now part of a management committee, including Robin Fieth, who chairs the committee and Kevin Senior, who is their treasurer.

Previously, the trust was seeking about £250,000 to buy the property but now it wants to buy two more in High Street — No 6, known as the Watlington Arcade, and No 26, which is a former bicycle repair shop.

The total cost, if the group bought all three, would be about £600,000.

The group said it has acquired about £281,000 in pledges so far and is currently waiting for its registration to be confirmed under the Financial Conduct Authority, so they can open a bank account and progress to formal share offers.

The group is also being supported by Plunkett UK, based in Woodstock, a charity which supports people who live in rural areas to set up and run businesses in community ownership.

Mr Fieth told the Henley Standard that while there is an offer on No 2, if it’s successful, it wouldn’t be the end of the project.