Shark

HEADINGTON NEWS ARCHIVE for 2023

Local Elections: none in city in 2023

There were no elections in Oxford City in May 2023, because all Oxfordshire County Councillors had already been elected to 2025 and all Oxford City Councillors either to 2024 or to 2026. The four Oxfordshire District Councils did however have elections and here are the results:

Bullingdon Community Centre reopened

The keys of the newly rebuilt Bullingdon Community Centre in Peat Moors were handed over to the local community association and it opened in January 2023.

The old Bullingdon Community Centre was in poor condition and was demolished in September 2021. The following planning application (submitted by Oxford City Council via their agent Jessop & Cook architects) for a new building of light grey brick with green metal cladding was approved in February 2020:

The new designs for the replacement centre were revealed by the city council in July 2019, but its rebuilding was postponed in June 2020 to address the city council's Coronavirus funding gap:

The initial plans approved in March 2018 for “Part demolition of existing community centre. Erection of part single part double height front and side extension” were abandoned when the city council discovered that a filled-in quarry was buried beneath the building:

Why the name Bullingdon?

Headington recycling banks removed

Oxford City Council announced that in October 2023 that it would be removing all recycling banks on their land throughout the city. This means that those at the following sites in Headington have gone:

  • Headington Car Park next to Waitrose (including the charity-run banks collecting textiles, books, etc)
  • Wood Farm (Atkyns Road)
  • Barton (Underhill Circus)
  • Northway (Westlands Drive)

Explanation and full list from Oxford City Council

Planning Appeals in Headington in 2023
Appeals allowed in 2023
Appeals dismissed in 2023
Regeneration of Headington Centre

Headington Action and the Headington Neighbourhood Forum, supported by Oxford City Council, employed the urban design practice AR Urbanism (with the support of Wedderburn Transport Planning) to identify ideas and prepare the Headington Centre Improvement Plan to implement the vision.

 

Shop and businesses changes in 2023
The Chequers pub, Headington Quarry

This pub in Beaumont Road closed on Boxing Day 2023. A planning application was approved in December 2023 to convert it into a single large private house:

Four Seasons Chinese restaurant

The Four Seasons Chinese restaurant opened on 17 February 2023 at 65 London Road (formerly occupied by Flipping Burgerz, which closed in June 2022). Two planning applications were approved, and a licence granted:

  • Alterations to shopfront to include new signage and entrance
    (approved application 22/02062/FUL)
  • Display of 1no externally illuminated fascia sign
    (approved application 22/02063/ADV)
  • Current licence (22/03846/PREM) for the sale of alcohol and indoor recorded music
Lush Nails & Spa moved into former Frog Orange

In June 2023 Lush Nails & Spa moved into the former Frog Orange shop at 4 The Parade, Windmill Road which closed down in April 2023.

Childs becomes Oliver & James Funeral Directors

On 6 December 2023 S&R Childs Funeral Services at 69 London Road became Oliver & James Funeral Directors.

Lee & Lindars rebranded as Reaston Brown

Lee & Lindars at 3 Simon House in Windmill Road is now Reaston Brown

NatWest Bank closed

The NatWest Bank at 89–91 London Road closed on 7 February 2023. The building, whose freehold was bought by Pinky Pinks Property Ltd (registered in the British Virgin Islands) for £645,000 on 5 September 2013 (ON103063) is currently advertised to let at a rent of £40,000 a year by Green & Partners (which is dealing nationally with “NatWest disposal”).

A planning application “to certify that the existing subdivision of property into 2 x 1 bed flats (Use Class C3) is lawful development”, relating to 89A and 89B London Road, was submitted in November 2023:

Ice Hair closed and Footcare business has moved

Ice Hair at 11 Windmill Road closed down on 7 February 2023

Foothealth with Linda (formerly at 9 Windmill Road) has moved in with Beauty Bee at 11B Windmill Road (the building behind No. 11).

The block comprising Nos. 11/11B and the two smaller shops to the north at 9A and 9, plus office accommodation upstairs, has been marketed by Carter Jonas as an investment for sale (businesses unaffected) for c.£750,000 and is currently under offer.

Adria moved to new premises nearby

Adria Pizzeria & Gelateria moved a few doors down from Simon House to the former Japlene shop at 6 Windmill Road in January 2023. Its licensing application to serve alcohol (22/02855/PREM) was approved. .

In May 2020 planning permission for the former Japlene shop was granted to Armend Qyqalla (owner of both the nearby Armends Barber Shop and Adria) for “Change of use of ground floor shop (A1) to Restaurant and Cafes (A3). Change of use to first floor from shop (Use Class A1) to 1 x 1 bed flat (Use Class C3). Erection of part single-, part two-storey rear extension, formation of external staircase to north and west elevations, insertion of 1no. door and 1no. rooflight to north elevation, insertion of 1no. rooflight to west elevation and alterations to fenestration to east elevation. Provision of bin and cycle stores”: 20/00812/FUL.

Japlene at 6 Windmill Road closed at Christmas 2018 and moved to 28 The Hill, Garsington, and there has been extensive building work, to the building, including converting the first floor into a flat (19/00057/FUL).

PhoneMax/Vape shop

Following its refit, the PhoneMax/Vape Shop at 79 London Road is now also the Oxford Xpress Food & Wine Store. Its licence 23/03440/PREM, granted in September 2023 allows alcohol to be sold from 8am to 11pm for consumption off the premises.

Bliss Hair Salon

This is due to open in Adria's former premises at 5 Simon House. (The hexagonal sign over the door originally said “Le Vin Café”, but there appears to have been a change of plan.)

Oxford Orthodontic Centre

Pen to Paper at 95 London Road closed permanently on 8 May 2022 after the building was sold to the Oxford Orthodontic Centre upstairs, which made extensive alterations and has since May 2023 occupied both the ground-floor and part of the second floor.

In October 2023 planning permission was refused to turn the two upstairs floors at the back of the premises into a two-bedroomed dwelling.

Lemon Garden to become takeaway
Babylon: House of Shawarma

This former dessert café at 113 London Road was refurbished as a takeaway. A planning application was approved in April 2023 for “Change of use application from Café (Use Class E) to a hot food takeaway (Sui Generis), Installation of 1no. condenser unit and 1no. extractor flue to rear elevation”:

Oxfordshire Lettings

This now occupies the front part of The Hub Business Centre at 125 London Road.

KFC in Windmill Road

KFC opened in the former Queen's/Oxford Fine Food Store at 1–3 Windmill Road on 18 October 2023 following two months of extensive renovations. Agimude Ltd of Cheltenham, the owners of the property, applied for and were granted planning permission for “Change of use of ground floor commercial premises (Use Class E) to a mixed use restaurant/takeaway (Sui Generis). Alterations to shopfront. Installation of an air vent, 2no condensing units and 2no AC units to the rear elevation”:

The Oxford Fine Food Store closed just a few months after it opened in 2022, and the premises were advertised to let with Quintons at £32,000 p.a.

Changes to Risinghurst bus service, Jan 2023

The Stagecoach No.14 bus service between Oxford railway station and the JR continues to run up to every 30 minutes but is now diverted via Northway and Old Marston. There will also be an hourly extension of this service to Risinghurst

The Oxford Bus Company (which since October 2022 has been owned by Gerrard Investment Bidco Ltd which took over the Go-Ahead Group) withdrew the No. 9 and City 13 buses, reduced the No. 8 service, and more: