Business & Technology
Business rates slammed amid closures in Oxfordshire town
Both the Wantage Chamber of Commerce and local MP Olly Glover have called for reform to the rates system following reports that both national and independent businesses with bases in the town are struggling.
Most recently women’s clothing store New Look, off Limborough Road, announced it would shut at the end of April.
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Reacting to this, one shopper, who asked not to be named, said: “Diabolical that we barely have any clothes shops left in Wantage. Greedy landlords charging too much rent.”
Others also shared their concern for the high street in the town, which was where King Alfred the Great was born more than 1,000 years ago.
In addition TG Jones – the successor to WH Smith which has a base at Kings Park Shopping Centre – is reportedly considering a number of closures and several independent businesses have shut in recent times as well.
This includes Cozzy Lounge in Newbury Street and the Wantage Chippy in Wallingford Street.
Both Mr Glover and the chamber were keen to street that Wantage remains a vibrant town with resilient businesses but were critical of the current economic environment.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Didcot and Wantage said: “High street businesses across the country are being undermined by a range of government policies such as the National Insurance rise, an unfair business rates system and ever-increasing energy costs.
“After a useful meeting with Wantage Chamber of Commerce, I challenged treasury minister Dan Tomlinson in the House of Commons this week on when Labour’s manifesto promise of major change to business rates system would actually happen.
“The response was that their plans were set out in the budget. However, I know from Wantage businesses that those changes were just tinkering round the edges.”
The issue of business rates is particularly pertinent now as at the start of April, the government reset the value measure for the tax – increasing the bill for many – and reduced relief across a number of sectors.
Maeri Howard of the chamber of commerce said that while Wantage businesses are “not immune” to the challenging environment, new shops are still choosing Wantage and entrepreneurs continue to have confidence in the town.
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She said: “The chamber of commerce is actively working to support that confidence — advocating on issues like business rates that place a disproportionate burden on local businesses, connecting businesses with one another, and ensuring that Wantage remains a place where businesses want to be.
“The most meaningful support for our businesses would come through genuine reform of business rates, which continue to penalise physical premises at a time when they need encouragement, not additional burden.”
She added: “Wantage has challenges, but it also has genuine strengths — and a business community that is working hard together to build on them.”
Jayden, 13 launched Jay’s Bakes from his home in Taunton Road in Bicester on Saturday, June 20.
His late nan, a keen baker herself, was the inspiration behind his passion, as well as time spent helping his uncle with his catering business.
Over the last 18 months he has honed his skills by preparing sweat treats every day after school.
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Determined to turn his hobby into something more, Jayden spent two and a half months researching requirements, gaining his Level 2 food hygiene certificate and officially registering his business, mostly without adult intervention.
After four days of preparation, the business officially launched.
Customers were treated to a wide selection of homemade goods, including M&M cookies, Kinder brownies, Biscoff cookies, Victoria sponge trays, lemon drizzle cups and viral ‘dot cakes’.
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His Kinder brownies proved particularly popular, and by the end of the day he had sold out of everything, taking £210.
Despite feeling “excited and a bit nervous” beforehand, Jayden said the opening was a success, with a strong turnout and positive feedback shared on social media.
His favourite moment came when he officially opened the shed by cutting the ribbon.
Supported by his mum, stepdad, grandparents and uncle, Jayden first began selling from a table in May before building and painting his now-signature blue cake shed.
He now plans to continue baking and selling regularly, bringing his creations to the local community.
Lidl has been given planning permission to build its ninth supermarket in Oxfordshire, despite concerns over flooding.
Aldi opened in Didcot in 2015 and has a supermarket at the Jubilee Way roundabout but shoppers in the town have had to wait over a decade for Lidl to follow.
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South Oxfordshire District Council has now backed plans by the German retailer for a new supermarket in Abingdon Road.
Former Didcot mayor Mocky Khan said: “This give the residents of Didcot more choice, especially when you consider the cost of living environment we have at the moment.
“The town is growing with more new homes being built, and with more growth it’s good to have a wide variety of supermarkets to fit all budgets,”
The plans for the new supermarket were first submitted in 2024.
Didcot Town Council previously objected to the scheme, on the grounds of a lack of flood risk mitigation measures, along with the county council who said there was “insufficient information”.
The town council noted there are “several flooding incidents in the area, especially when the Marsh Bridge water pumps fail”.
But in a report by planning officers granting permission to the supermarket, those issues have now been addressed by Lidl.
The officers said the proposals “largely accord” with the policies around planning, and more can be done to “break up” the car park with greenery.
Planning officers chose to let Lidl build the new supermarket subject to conditions.
They said in a report: “Balanced against this policy conflict is the fact that this is a previously developed site, which is currently in a dilapidated state.
“The proposals represent a significant improvement on the current underutilisation of the site and on its appearance.
“The National Planning Policy Framework and Local Plan set out significant support for the reuse of previously developed land.
“As stated in the applicant’s planning statement, there have been previous enquiries as to the redevelopment of the site that have not come to fruition.
“Given this, finding a viable use for the site is a clear benefit which I consider to be of substantial benefit.”
Thirty-four residents had objected to Lidl’s plans, highlighting concerns over extra traffic, there being no need for another supermarket in the town and there being more appropriate locations to build in their view.
Didcot already has an Aldi store just off Broadway and a Sainsbury’s, M&S Foodhall and Asda.
The nearest Lidl to the proposed site are in Lupton Road, Wallingford, and Marcham Road in Abingdon.
Three people wrote in to support the new Lidl, recognising the benefits of a discount food store and the further jobs it will create.
Lidl has said its proposals for a Didcot supermarket would deliver 40 full-time equivalent jobs as well as further employment during the construction phase.
No opening date was given by the retailer, while the developer is currently on site progressing with the enabling works.
A spokesman said: “We’ve seen demand for our affordable, high-quality products continue to rise in Oxfordshire, and we are committed to serving more communities in the area.
“Our new store will create around 40 new jobs and build on our continued growth.
“We’re excited to be a step closer to opening this store and thank everyone who has supported us on our journey so far.”
It also said the £12m investment would work with the 6,300 new homes allocated to be built, as per the local plan.
Dalcour Maclaren, a specialist in utilities and infrastructure, announced the news on June 22, following a detailed assessment of its operations, including governance, employee wellbeing, environmental impact, and social responsibility.
James Neil, CEO of Dalcour Maclaren, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Dalcour Maclaren.
“B Corp status gives us the official badge that recognises everything that matters most to us in our culture, our values, and how we make decisions for our people and our clients. We thrive on doing things differently at DM and B Corp absolutely endorses this.”
The certification means the company meets rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
Dalcour Maclaren now joins more than 10,000 B Corps worldwide and over 2,600 in the UK, including well-known names such as The Guardian, Innocent Drinks, Patagonia, and The Big Issue.
Chris Turner, CEO of B Lab UK, said: “Welcoming Dalcour Maclaren to the B Corp community is hugely exciting. Its commitment to doing business differently will be an inspiration to others and will help spread the notion that success in business is as much about people and planet as it is profit.”
Dalcour Maclaren operates across the UK and Ireland, supporting major projects in energy, water, transport, and digital infrastructure. The company’s services include land, planning, environment, stakeholder engagement, and geospatial services.
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