Former Iceland supermarket shopfront could get refurbished

The British supermarket chain Iceland closed its high street shop in Sheep Street, Bicester, in 2024.

Iceland moved out of Sheep Street in Bicester in 2024 (Image: Liam McBurney)

Since the company’s Food Warehouse stores opened in the nearby Launton Road Retail Park, the site has remained vacant.

Now, Allen Planning Limited, acting on behalf of an applicant, wants to alter the front of the ground floor shop front to attract a new commercial tenant.

It submitted plans to Cherwell District Council, the planning authority seeking what it called the creation of ‘minor external alterations’ which would ‘not adversely impact the design of the building or the wider visual amenities of the area’.

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Amendments include a white render band in place of signage, slimline aluminium windows, a glazed fanlight, a new aluminium double door with fanlight, and a separate aluminium entrance door to the first floor, as previously approved under plans.

Proposed changes to the front elevation for 12 Sheep Street in Bicester to attract a new commercial tenant after Iceland left to a nearby retail park in 2024 (Image: Oaten Architects)

Changes to the two upper floors have already been approved, including installing replacement windows and five new infill panels.

The site sits within the Bicester Conservation Area, which is also within the newly pedestrianised ‘Sheep Street’ character area, which is characterised by predominantly three-storey buildings facing onto the main shopping street.

Comments are due until July 2 and the planning authority is set to make a decision by July 24.