Plans have been lodged for a former distillery to be used as a commercial space. 

Applicant Daniel Bond has submitted the scheme for the former Oxford Artisan Distillery in Cheney Lane. 

The distillery left the Oxford City Council owned site earlier this year. The city council has been renting the site out since then, but this application would allow the existing barn to be used as storage and for the whole site to be classified as commercial. 

The distillery had been producing Oxford Rye Dry Gin there since 2017 until it moved to a larger premises in Yorkshire in April.

In 2022 the company's Oxford Rye Dry Gin was launched into more than 150 Waitrose stores across the country.

READ MORE: Calls for flexibility on LTNs after Oxford traffic chaos

Former Oxford Artisan Distillery (Image: Contributed) In the scheme's planning statement, it said: “In early 2024 The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) decided to leave the site. Therefore the owners of the site (Oxford City Council) have decided to rent the site out and are currently advertising the property commercially. 

“To achieve a better level of interest, they have instructed Jessop and Cook Architects to submit an application for retention of the storage barn permanently, to be used as storage for future potential uses; as well as to change the use of the site from a sui-generis distillery to a broad based Class (E) commercial classification.

“As the Threshing Barn is Grade II listed and the rest of the site sits in its curtilage, a listed building consent application is also required.”

It added: “The site comprises the remnants of a farm originally known as Headington Farm which then became Cheney Farm and it contains a derelict 18th century grade II listed Threshing Barn, alongside other more recently built buildings now occupied by Toad.

“Until the change of use granted for Toad to occupy the site as a distillery it had been used by Oxford City Council as a park depot. Access to the site is gained through a secure vehicular entrance from Cheney Lane as well as a secure pedestrian entrance from South Park on the western boundary.

“The Threshing Barn is the earliest standing building in the conservation area and dates from the 18th century. The adjacent farmyard buildings include a cowshed and the shelter shed which was originally open-fronted.

“In conclusion the proposals for change of use and retention of the storage barn are based on the city council's wish to make the site as attractive to proposed tenants as possible; this will in turn increase and retain the economic sustainability of the site and environmental sustainability by retaining the storage barn.

“The proposal will have negligible heritage impact and through insuring commercial sustainability allow the site to be well maintained and the heritage assets preserved for future generations.”

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber you will get:      

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website   
  • Advert-light access       
  • Reader rewards       
  • Full access to our app

About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby