RESIDENTS have hit out over plans to demolish two historic shops in Wantage town centre.

Vanderbilt Homes wants to knock down and rebuild 21 and 23 Wallingford Street as part of a new development to create five shops and 12 apartments at a site in Stirling Road, off Wallingford Street.

Its original planning application, approved last year, involved refurbishing the two shops, formerly Blanchard Fabrics and James Heating Services.

The 18th century buildings, which have been empty for several months, are the only two survivors of a row of timber-framed shops that were demolished in 1972 to make way for the Waitrose supermarket.

Terry Randall, owner of Wantage-based Wheatsheaf Restorations, last month handed Vale of White Horse District Council a petition with more than 50 signatures in an effort to save the buildings. The 62-year-old, from Grove Street, said: “I want to keep what we have left of our heritage. The application was applied for on the back of the promise to restore and renovate the shop fronts.

“The developer is now reneging on that promise and trying to replace them with similar buildings which are larger and I suspect that was really the plan all along.”

The district council hopes to make a decision on the bid by October 16.

Wantage councillor Jenny Hannaby said: “I was pleased and supportive of the development as we were renovating two much-loved buildings.

“I am concerned at the change of application.”

Geoff Murrain, development manager for Vanderbilt Homes, said the development would mean “several millions of pounds” being invested into Wantage.

The firm earlier said in a statement: “These buildings are incapable of re-use without wholesale reconstruction.”