Central Abingdon Regeneration Framework
The Central Abingdon Regeneration Framework (CARF) was produced by Vale of White Horse District Council and it’s project team, led by Carter Jonas, to identify what future improvements are needed in the town for when an opportunity presents itself and to direct future decisions to support the vision for central Abingdon. The final CARF document was published in February 2023.
The CARF sets out options for how areas of the town centre could be redeveloped, including three key sites owned by the Vale: The Charter, Abbey House and The Upper Reaches. It establishes aspirations for positive change in the market town, encouraging people to get around by walking, cycling or using public transport to reduce traffic, improve air quality and help combat climate change. It also promotes improved retail and recreation with direct access to the River Thames as well as improved facilities in the town to build upon the great culture and heritage that Abingdon has to offer.
The framework will also help the council deliver on objectives set out in its Climate Action Plan. It aims to align with Oxfordshire-wide cycling and walking projects and the Abingdon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which seek to improve the cycling and walking environment and create better connectivity between homes, town centres and business parks.
It will help inform the Joint Local Plan, which Vale of White Horse District Council is creating alongside South Oxfordshire District Council, and will also complement the Abingdon Neighbourhood Plan, which is being developed by the Abingdon Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group.
Consultation
In summer 2022, the district council and its consultant team including Carter Jonas and Glanville, asked people their views on some of the major issues and locations in central Abingdon, including three key sites owned by the local authority: The Charter, Abbey House and The Upper Reaches. You can still view the consultation materials view online but the opportunity to provide comments via our online survey has closed.
Thank you to the hundreds of people including residents, businesses and visitors who gave their views via our online survey that was open for four weeks from mid-June to mid-July, and to the hundreds more who attended a two-day pop-up exhibition in a retail unit in Bury Street on 17 and 18 June. In total, 355 people attended the exhibition and 385 individuals responded via the survey, generating 4,305 individual comments. The comments have been used to help create the CARF, which will set out realistic options for how the town centre sites could be redeveloped.
Some 61% of respondents to the online survey either strongly supported or supported the CARF vision the council consulted on, whilst 24% thought it could be improved.
Respondents highlighted the many great things about central Abingdon, with the most common being the river, access to green spaces, including Abbey Meadow and the playground, the history, character and aesthetic of central Abingdon, the Market Place, and the great variety of shops, particularly the independent shops.
We asked people what suggestions they have for improving Abingdon, which included providing a better retail, food and beverage offer, addressing traffic volume and control, and improving parking and accessibility.
The public engagement carried out informed the final CARF document.
Neighbourhood Plan
Production of the CARF has been closely aligned to the development of Abingdon’s Neighbourhood Plan, which is being led by the Abingdon Neighbourhood Development Plan Steering Group, which includes members of the town council.
Contact
If you have any queries please contact the CARF team on:
- Email: CARF@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
- Post: CARF, Vale of White Horse District Council, Abbey House, Abbey Close, Abingdon, OX14 3JE
If you’d like to sign up for updates on our CARF project, please complete our opt-in form. Please refer to our Privacy Notice regarding how your personal data is used for this consultation
