Bicester - A Snapshot of the Town Centre

Earlier in 2011 Bicester and District Chamber of Commerce undertook a survey of the void rate within the town centre which highlighted that the unoccupied rate was far lower than the national average, standing at just over 12%, as against a 15%+ national average.


It should be born in mind that, although the visible face of the towns’ economy is the High Street, retail is anything but the sole measure.  There is a diverse economy across the town, with over 3 times as many businesses, 750 plus, outside the town centre as there are in it.


The latest data, October 2011, indicates an improvement in the situation since the previous data was collected with the void rate reducing by 1percentage point, or by10% from earlier this year. 


Of the voids counted at least 3 are known to have occupiers who are either not utilizing the ground floor, or are close to moving in.  Factoring this in, along with the strategic voids in Crown Walk, reduces the percentage of empty units to 8.1%.


Assessing Bicester against the National picture:  One of the UK’s leading property publications, The Estates Gazettes, reports that the average number of retail units is 1 in 7, equaling 15%.  Many small towns, similar in size to Bicester, are experiencing rates as high as 1 in 3 of 33%


Using the vacancy figure, adjusted to allow for know factors (see above),  Bicester is currently demonstrating a town centre vacancy rate of just half the national average.


Bicester has, over a period of international economic shrinkage and recession, attracted investment from; Sainsbury, Iceland, Lidl, Aldi, Topps Tiles, ScrewFix, Chiltern Railways, Premier Inn, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, Countryside Property, its own district council and many more.  A small proportion of this would be welcomed in most locations across the UK over this period.


Locally business leaders have been working with each other and also local government, on a number of initiatives, including; leveraging the opportunity offered by the visitors to Bicester Village for the Town Centre, assessing the impact and implementing changes to parking charges, ensuring the town centre development has the minimum impact on Christmas period trading and much more. Some imaginative collaborative initiatives are due to be announced shortly.


The coming year and the start of the much needed town centre scheme, offers challenges, but this report provides a benchmark for any impact to be measured against.  Clear communication and effective collaboration in 2012 will help all concerned.

Survey Details
The latest survey of ground floor commercial premises across the town centre, undertaken on the 19^th of October, 2011,  yielded the following outcomes;

Street	Total Units	Voids	% of Voids
Sheep Street	76	5***	6.6%
Market Square	39	3*	7.7%
Manorsfield Road	7	0	0%
The Causeway	12	0	0%
Chapel Street	1	0	0%
Deans Court	14	2	14.3%
Crown Walk	27	8**	29.6%
Evans Lane	8	3	37.5%
Totals	184	21	11.41%

* Includes Bicester Advertiser “shop” and Old Pioneer, currently being converted.

** Includes 3 No strategically void units.

*** Includes the Office building by Connells.

The McKay unit in Sheep Street, ownership of which still resides with Ashmores’, is trading well and soon to be subject to a planning application to increase its retail floor space.
Beans has closed following a planned two-year exit strategy.  A new occupier, an expanding local business, Bicester Wools,  will be moving in shortly.


A new Italian style restaurant has recently opened in the Town Centre and is getting some extremely positive reviews on the Bicester Business Network Facebook page.


In regards to the Co-Op, within the last few years this company invested heavily in the Buckingham Road store and has as many units around the towns estates as Tesco.  They are not positioned as a high street competitor for Sainsbury or Tesco, but we have good reason to believe the unit will not remain vacant for long as Wilkinsons have submitted a planning application for the location.


There are 7 Charity outlets in the town, representing just under 4% of the commercial property in the area surveyed.  (There are more banks, restaurants and estate agents than charity shops.)


Empty ground floor units, in highly visible locations, that could be visually improved outside of current planned schemes, include the former A C Electrical store and the Bicester Advertiser offices on the market square.

Ben Jackson - Chairman


N.B Survey results include, Pubs, Banks, Restaurants, Take Away outlets, Charity Shops, Solicitors and Insurance Brokers, Estate Agents etc.