A CHARITY is leaving Didcot after 20 years as its current office is set to be demolished as part of a multi-million pound development.

South and Vale Carers, which supports people who care for disabled relatives, has been at its current office, in Lydalls Road, since it was founded in 1994.

South Oxfordshire District Council’s plans to revamp the area it owns around Didcot Parkway Station would see the building demolished to make way for SOHA housing association offices.

Charity manager John Tabor said: “Although these proposals have yet to receive planning consent, we feel that it is only a matter of time before a scheme will be approved.

“Lydalls Road has been the home of South and Vale Carers since the charity was established and we are rightly proud of our long-standing association with the town, and this area of Didcot in particular.”

He said the charity would continue to provide support to carers of all ages in the town, but it is now expecting to move to a new out-of-town unit at Harwell.

Mr Tabor added: “Of paramount importance to us is securing a long-term operational base to continue our work in supporting the increasing number of carers of all ages in the town and across Southern Oxfordshire.

“Accordingly, on May 15, South and Vale Carers will be moving from Lydalls Road to alternative offices within the Harwell Innovation Centre.”

As soon as the charity has left 5 Lydalls Close, he said, the property will be boarded up by property agents DTZ, and will stay empty until the planned start of the redevelopment work in 2016.

The charity has arranged for its phone calls and post to be redirected to its new offices.

Mr Tabor said the charity was keen to keep some kind of physical presence in Didcot and is also looking to set up a weekly drop-in service in the town.

The charity also made a number of critical observations on the proposals, including the risk of siting a nursery school on Lydalls Road next to regular two-way traffic.

The council wants to revamp the area opposite Didcot Parkway with the support of the Homes and Communities Agency.

None of the plans are definite as the district council has yet to submit a planning application to its own planning department.

The latest proposals being drawn up by planning consultants GL Hearn would see the Prince of Wales pub demolished and an eight-storey residential block built.

The plans also include a new food store, hotel and gym on the corner of Station Road and Haydon Road.

District councillor for Didcot Bill Service said he hoped the charity would continue to do good work for Didcot and the area.

He said: “The whole area needs an uplift and unfortunately the South and Vale Carers’ building is part of the area of that modernisation.

“They are a fantastic charity and they do great work, and this is only going to be a change of location.”