The building concept design for the long awaited Didcot Gateway opposite the town's railway station has been revealed.

South Oxfordshire District Council approved the design at the most recent Cabinet meeting, it will house the offices it shares with the neighbouring Vale of White Horse District Council, who work jointly across most of their services and share staff.

According to the council, residents, along with local businesses and other organisations, will have a chance to have their say on the proposals for the building when the planning application is submitted.

Oxford Mail:

The offices will be built to meet a strict sustainability standard, known as the BREEAM Excellent standard according with the councils’ commitments to tackle the climate emergency.

The building will feature solar panels on its roof and potentially on covered visitor parking spaces.

Cllr Andrea Powell, Cabinet Member for this project, said: “The new building will help us make significant strides to becoming carbon neutral, and the long-term rental income from the commercial offices will also help us put the council on a strong financial footing in a time where ongoing finances for councils are filled with uncertainty. We’re very excited to be able to celebrate and embrace Didcot’s railway heritage with our building too.”

The building will also include commercial office space the councils can let to a third party.

The building will be located opposite the railway station in Didcot, help the council meet their commitments to building stable finances, the building will also include commercial office space the councils can let to a third party.

The council hopes this site will be more accessible to the public than the current offices at Milton Park.

Oxford Mail:

In addition to this, they believe the location opposite the station should help in their efforts to encourage sustainable commuting, and the flexible space will accommodate organisations, which like them, want to explore more flexible ways of working after the pandemic.

Both councils are working in partnership and consultation with other landowners at the site, including Homes England and Soha, to create a ‘masterplan’ for Didcot Gateway ahead of its regeneration.

It will be provided as a supplementary document alongside all of the planning applications that are put forward for the site.

Homes England chose to demolish the buildings early having listened to feedback from local residents, these are the old Labour Club, an empty property at 3-5 Lydalls Road and an empty shop.