Demolition of former hardware store in Oxford 'hit by LTNs'

The planning application for 27 Magdalen Road - once Silvester's - has now been submitted to the city council.

There are plans to demolish the existing building and replace it with a new building of two and three storeys, to create eight one-bedroom flats, with bin and cycle stores.

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Last summer Stuart Silvester announced that the business that had been in the family for 112 years would have to close after the LTN measure were introduced in the area.

Silvester’s Stores was located one block down from a new bollard installed as part of a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) trial in East Oxford. 

The aim of the trial was to cut traffic coming off arterial roads like Cowley Road and Iffley Road into residential streets, to benefit residents, but Mr Silvester said at the time the measures were 'out of touch with reality.

He said earlier: “It’s an absolute disaster to be honest.

"Thankfully the business has come through two world wars and the pandemic, but LTNs have hit traders the most.

“They didn't listen to the traders. God knows how people are going to afford to keep running. 

“Larger suppliers can't get down here, things like compost deliveries and logs come on big trucks but they're too big a wagon. 

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"It's not worth me being here. I'll be running at deficit."

The business owner took over from his late father in 2016 and said the store had been family-owned since his grandfather started up in 1910.

On closing up, the father-of-two said last year: “I have been giving it a lot of thought for a few months because I know what’s coming.

"It’s been a difficult few years, but this has made my mind up.

“It’s the final straw."

The Didcot-based 56-year-old planned to retire when he was 60 but brought that decision forward.

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The application says: "The existing buildings located on the site are of two and 2.5 storeys and do not have substantial aesthetic or character value.

"The ground floor has most recently accommodated a hardware store, with living accommodation on the upper floors.

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"The buildings have become derelict and dilapidated over time and a structural survey revealed that most of the structures are in very poor condition and should be demolished or replaced due to advanced decay.

"The surrounding buildings are predominantly two storey terraced houses, but there are larger buildings directly on the opposite side of the Magdalen Road of three storeys in height or 2.5 storeys with tall mansard roofs and gables, as well as 2.5-storey semi-detached buildings with gabled facades to the north on Hurst Street."

"The site is surrounded mainly by Victorian terraces with rectangular or splayed single storey bays.

"There are a few examples of larger semi detached Victorian houses with double storey bays on Hurst Street and double storey on the opposite side of Magdalen Road.

"To the south and south-west side of Magdalen Road there are later era residential buildings with more modern and flat frontage features."

The planning application has been submitted by Bice Investments based in north Oxford.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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