Plans approved moving historic Thame cattle market to new location
Thame’s famous cattle market is moving to a new destination after planning approval was granted to open a new facility.
South Oxfordshire District Council approved a request to build a new trading facility by Christmas Hill Business Park. An exact timeline for when the new site might be ready is unknown at this time, but it is hoped that the trading area will be ready in 18 months, so auctions will continue at the North Street venue which has been in use since 1951.
Livestock markets have been held in Thame since the Middle Ages and have been held in the town centre for over 800 years.
Thame Farmers Auction Mart (TFAM), which has managed the weekly agricultural exchange since 2000, lodged the planning bid.
W. Lamb Developments Ltd has been trusted with building the new holding site which will be built a mile outside of the town centre. It is hoped that the new location will ease congestion issues on market days.
Richard Roff, TFAM chairman, said: “We are delighted with South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee’s resolution to grant planning permission for the new livestock market site, subject to dealing with a number of planning conditions. Once these conditions are resolved this will secure the future of livestock trading in the South East at a time when a number of markets across the country have closed in recent years.
“While the resolution to grant planning permission is a significant milestone, further work is required to deliver the planning consent. The project, which owes much to the expert advice of surveyor Will Taylor at Briggs and Stone, involves a partnership with W. Lamb Developments Ltd, who will deliver the commercial business units on part of the application site, which will help fund the project and are part of the application.
“The benefits of the new site include covered pens, the potential for expanded operations and increased sales opportunities as a new market is expected to attract new buyers and sellers, offer better facilities for hauliers and allow for more operating days.
“Thame was awarded its Market Charter in 1215 and it is wonderful that its connection with livestock sales continues while removing issues related to congestion, noise and smell created by the current location in the town centre.”