Banbury property expert appointed to help with revitalisation project of vacant properties across Oxfordshire

Being administered by Oxford City Council and run in partnership with social enterprise Makespace, the ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire’ project will launch a £1.90 million revitalisation of vacant properties across Oxfordshire and bounce back from the pandemic during 2021.

Covid-19 has had a significant impact on Oxfordshire’s high streets. Footfall in Oxford city centre was down 62.3 per cent in July (from 3.1m in 2019 to 1.2m in 2020) and 46.5 per cent in August (from 2.7m to 1.4m).

The Meanwhile in Oxfordshire project will see vacant units in high streets across the county transformed into independent shops, cultural venues, creative studios, and co-working space. The aim is to provide affordable premises to accommodate more than 100 organisations, which will create or secure at least 300 jobs across Oxfordshire.

Makespace Oxford has formed a consortium to help run the project and has appointed Banbury property firm, Wild Property Consultancy, as one of the specialist organisations. Owner Neil Wild – also a representative of government’s The High Streets Task Force, will provide additional expertise and knowledge across the county as part of his role.

Neil Wild, of Wild Property Consultancy, said: “The Meanwhile in Oxfordshire project offers a welcomed boost for our towns across the county as well as for Oxford city centre - supporting the businesses and communities they serve. It is a privilege to have been selected to support this exciting and much needed initiative, and I am looking forward to being part of this combined effort to help secure the future of our high streets.”

Other partners of the Meanwhile in Oxfordshire partnership include, Transition by Design, Soha Housing, Fusion Arts, Aspire Oxfordshire and Independent Oxford, alongside national experts in this field, Meanwhile Space CIC. These organisations will seek to build partnerships with property owners – then to renovate, fit out and organise occupancy of dozens of vacant units, including in each of Oxfordshire’s districts, during 2021.

Andy Edwards, Co-Director and Programme Coordinator of Makespace Oxford, said: “The Meanwhile in Oxfordshire programme offers a crucial boost at a critical time to help local organisations countywide to access space and be part of a movement to revive our urban centres and offer a positive new vision of the high street post-Covid that helps to build stronger local economies and stronger local communities.”

Makespace has previously transformed vacant buildings across Oxfordshire into business and community space, including the Makespace Oxford workspace in Aristotle Lane and Open House in Little Clarendon Street. Wild Property have led similar initiatives in Oxfordshire’s town centres including in Banbury.

The City Council, Oxfordshire’s district councils and OxLEP will also work with the partnership to find properties and tenants. One of the aims of the project team is to work closely with residents and businesses to ensure new tenants of each unit reflect, represent, and meet the needs of the area.

The partnership led by Makespace will let all the units during 2021 and will then provide a range of business support so they can thrive over the following years.

Oxfordshire’s district councils working on the project alongside the City Council are Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire.

Makespace and the project team are keen to speak to all interested occupiers – those who are keen to take up this opportunity. Prospective occupiers can get in touch with Makespace by visiting: makespaceoxford.org or contact Neil Wild on 01295 983 333 or www.wild-property.co.uk