Thame Tesco decision likely to be delayed
THE target date of August 17, to decide a planning application for a supermarket on the outskirts of Thame, is unlikely to be met. Tesco has now agreed with Thame Town Council, that no comments or recommendation can be provided to SODC, until the outcome of a ‘Retail Impact Study’ the town council has commissioned, is known.
Thame’s Town Clerk, Graham Hunt, reported to a meeting of the full council this evening that Carter Jonas, who are carrying out Thame’s study, has confirmed that they have received the required raw household survey data from an organisation called GVA , which is currently working on an assessment of retail and other town centre uses in the district’s four main centres (Didcot, Henley-on-Thames, Thame and Wallingford) to help SODC forecast the need for new retail floorspace in the district, up to 2031.
The Town Clerk reported that Carter Jonas expects to submit a working draft report by July 31. Once a report based on the findings of Carter Jones has has been delivered to town councillors, a council meeting will be scheduled, planned for the second half of August (date to be publicised), for councillors to debate the Tesco Planning Application P15/S1637/O, and make its recommendation to South Oxfordshire District Council.
It is expected that SODC will make a decision on the Tesco application during early September.
