WORK to demolish the former Halfords building on the Botley Road in Oxford to make way for a new Waitrose store is due to begin next week.

The demolition programme could begin on Monday with the new store expected to open by the autumn of next year.

A letter sent from the Waitrose development team to neighbouring residents read: “The demolition programme is expected to last seven weeks and will commence by erecting secure site hoardings and protection fencing to trees.

“We intend to issue regular updates during the development programme to keep you notified of ongoing progress.”

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Proposals for the 24,500 sq ft store were approved by Oxford City Council’s west area planning committee in May. Construction work on Waitrose’s second Oxford store – after its 13,000 sq ft Headington branch – could start early in the new year. Planning permission was granted on the condition a pedestrian crossing is paid for by Waitrose.

The building was vacated by MFI in 2008 after the furniture business went into administration, and again by car goods store Halfords following its relocation to nearby Meadowside Retail Park in January 2013.

It was used by Cancer Research UK from August 2013 until June this year while the site’s long-term future was decided.

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