Plans to expand a shopping centre in Oxfordshire by almost a quarter have been approved by the local council’s planning committee
Oxfordshire shopping centre Bicester Village is set to increase its floor space after planning permission was granted to expand the facility.
Bicester Village opened in 1995 and comprised of 65 units. It currently has 234,000 sq ft of space and accommodates more than 130 units.
The planning committee at Cherwell District Council has approved an updated application, which included proposals to demolish the existing Tesco store, petrol station, and part of the existing outlet centre. In its place will be new parking and more retail space.
Bicester Nominees Ltd & Bicester II Nominees Ltd submitted the plans. The contents were said to be similar to those previously approved in July 2014, but with a slight increase in the amount of parking from 372 to 519.
The expansion of the retail centre will see around 56,000 sq ft added to the existing building. An additional 28 units will be housed in this section, increasing the overall size of Bicester Village by 24 per cent.
In a bid to reduce congestion in the area during peak times there will also be improvements to the local road network. This will include the installation of traffic lights at the Pingle Drive roundabout and new eastbound lanes for the A41.
Under the terms of the planning document, Bicester Nominees Ltd & Bicester II Nominees Ltd will also fund the construction of a new park and ride facility, a new footpath to the train station, as well as various other cycle and pedestrian routes. This will include direct links to the town centre.
Cherwell’s Head of Development Management Andy Preston said: “Bicester Village attracts millions of visitors from across the world each year so it’s important that provisions are in place to meet the demand.
“This increase in spaces, plus the associated transport improvements, should help to achieve that goal. It will also improve access from Bicester Village to the town centre which will hopefully boost footfall for all of the local traders.”
