A FORMER bank is set to be turned into a community hub in a renovation which could cost up to £4 million.

A planning application for the former NatWest in Chipping Norton has been approved by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC), with work pencilled in to start in January.

The application was submitted by The Branch Trust, which is hoping to bring key services back into the town.

Emma Kennedy, chair of trustees at the charity, said six-figure donations had been received to help fund the project.

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She said: “We’re creating a community hub for Chipping Norton – there’s a lot of deprivation in Chipping Norton and if you want to access services, you have to travel to Witney or Banbury, which is a huge barrier.

“We’ve been working with families so that’s why we’ve got the old NatWest building, with space for other services to come in too.

“It’ll be a place for other agencies so we’re absolutely thrilled we’ve got the full permission.

“Having the NatWest building will allow us to expand and bring services back into Chipping Norton, and we’re hoping this can be used as a blueprint for other market towns.”

thisisoxfordshire: The old NatWest bank in Chipping Norton is going to be used as a community hub. Picture by Ed NixThe old NatWest bank in Chipping Norton is going to be used as a community hub. Picture by Ed Nix

Although Mrs Kennedy could not reveal the identities of those who had donated, she said: “It’s going to cost between three and four million pounds to renovate, and we’ve currently raised £1.75m of that through grant applications and donations.

“We’ve had several six-figure donations and money from trusts too, while people in St Mary’s Church have raised money too.

“The building project will hopefully start in January for completion and opening in Easter 2023.”

thisisoxfordshire: The old NatWest bank in Chipping Norton is going to be used as a community hub. Picture by Ed NixThe old NatWest bank in Chipping Norton is going to be used as a community hub. Picture by Ed Nix

She added: “Covid has really opened people’s eyes to problems however it’s easily masked in Chipping Norton as the ‘land of the rich and famous’ but during Covid, we’ve discovered what is needed in the community.

“Whilst there’s immense wealth, there’s also significant deprivation.”

A planning statement for the application read: “The building will be used by a number of different groups and for a number of different functions – many of which are currently not provided for within Chipping Norton.

“The groups using the spaces will include a variety of community outreach programmes assisting all parts of the community and their particular needs.”

The Branch Trust is in discussions with Citizens Advice to extend its service in the town, and with Mind to reintroduce its service in Chipping Norton.

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In a consultee comment for the application, William Barton, business development officer at WODC, said: “I fully support the principle of a community hub in the town centre.

“Town centres are changing both because of the impact of online shopping and also because of new habits formed during the Covid pandemic.

“It is important that we do what we can to retain vitality in Chipping Norton and any use such as this proposed which will draw people in the town centre should be encouraged.”

The former NatWest in Market Place closed in 2018.

To find out more, visit: thebranchtrust.org