Makeover bid for old builders’ merchants

PLANS have been submitted to refurbish the former Gibbs and Dandy store in Henley.

Stark Building Materials UK wants to open a Jewson store on the site in Reading Road.

The company, which owns both brands after acquiring Jewson in March 2023, wants to develop the site, comprising partial demolition of the current structure and alterations to the existing building.

Once completed the existing Jewson branch at 99 Reading Road will close and the operations will be relocated to the refurbished site.

Stark wants to partially demolish the existing main building fronting and refurbish the external façades of the buildings with new timber cladding, roller shutters and metal sheet cladding over existing brickwork, as well as repairs to existing cladding and new customer entrance doors.

It has applied for permission for a covered racking storage area, used for storing wood and materials outside, as well as rationalisation of the site, including the relocation of nine parking bays, collection bays, sheltered cycle parking with six spaces, external storage, and a servicing area.

Stark said: “The business is in the process of consolidating and modernising the operation at these branches, as both sites are reaching the end of their life and do not meet Jewson’s operational requirements. Stark therefore seeks to refurbish the site to provide an efficient and modernised branch.”

South Oxfordshire District Council will make a final decision by September 1.