Wallingford concerns over retail ‘decline’ amid offices plan

A planning application for 53 St Mary’s Street, Wallingford, was submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council to change the listed building into an six-office block.

It comes after the 17th century building was ravaged by a fire in February 2025 when it was the premises for popular independent business, 900 Cafe.

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After months of closure, cafe owners Gabriel and Andrea Mattei opened in a new location on the same road in April, where the cafe continues to operate successfully.

Andrea and Gabriel Mattei, owners of 900 Cafe (Image: Contributed)

A new listed building consent application for the fire-damaged building reveals a ‘sensitive refurbishment and restoration project’ has just been completed, but the owners are now seeking to turn it into offices.

The plans said: “The property has over recent years been vacant at times and also in both retail and café use.

“Attempts have been made at marketing the building for such use again but there are other properties available in Wallingford in better locations and there has been no interest.

“However, there is considerable demand in the town for small and medium office space at present.

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“The layout of the property internally readily lends itself to the creation of six offices, with communal facilities, with this being achieved by nominal alterations.”

No external or structural changes are proposed, and any building repairs would be on a ‘like for like basis’ to protect its 400-year-old heritage.

Damage to 900 Cafe in Wallingford after a fire in February 2025 (Image: Nina Sarpong)

Wallingford Town Council, which is consulted on applications affecting the town, issued ‘no objection’ to the plans but did submit a comment.

It said: “Wallingford Town Council raise concerns regarding the decline of retail shops in the town.”

Councillor Nigel Hughes, Mayor of Wallingford, expanded on the comment, and said: “Rather than objecting to the application, Wallingford Town Council chose to submit a comment within our consultee response highlighting worries over the shrinking number of retail stores in the town.

Mayor of Wallingford, Cllr Nigel Hughes (Image: Wallingford Town Council)

“Driven by the extensive volume of completed, ongoing, and future housing developments, the population of Wallingford is projected to surpass 12,000, marking a 40 per cent increase compared to the 2011 census.

“Consequently, the town council is actively evaluating the infrastructure and facilities required to support the growing town moving forward.”

One local business owner, who did not want to be named, said: “I think it’s a shame that it might become offices, but I understand it’s a difficult shaped building, so I can sort of see why they’ve opted to have it occupied rather than not occupied.

“People working there might patronise some of the shops and cafes while they’re working there, which would be a positive.

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“The choices for renting as a retailer in Wallingford are a bit limited, and some of the nicer buildings are not the best options because lots of them are really old.

“For most tenants, your leases make you responsible for maintaining the buildings rather than it falling on the owner, who often doesn’t even live here and just have it as part of their portfolio.

“It can be quite off putting, being responsible for a building that isn’t yours but that the owner isn’t maintaining. That could be a bit of what’s going on.”