Oxford plans for former Topshop and Topman fashion stores

The large shop units in Queen Street remain closed more than two years after the popular fashion chain disappeared from the nation’s high streets.

Now a planning application has been submitted to the city council for the switch to office space.

READ AGAIN: When Endeavour star Shaun Evans will next appear on ITV

The application from Queen Street Ltd and its tenant The Office Group is proposing to refurbish the existing building and create office space on the first and third floors.

The plans are for 20-24 Queen Street and 1-10 St Ebbe’s Street, which includes the Topman and Topshop and Halifax UK units.

While Topshop and Topman has closed, the building society remains open.

In February 2021, Topshop staff said they were ‘heartbroken’ after being told the news the stores would never reopen again.

In a message for everyone to see on the Queen Street store window, staff wrote: “To all of our lovely customers of TSTM (Topshop, Topman) Oxford. 

“Thank you for all the smiles, the laughter and your loyalty to this store for the past five years.

“We are heartbroken having to close our doors forever and will miss you all very much. 

READ AGAIN: Group plans to take over village pub 

“Stay safe, keep smiling and please support your local high street.

“Lots of love TSTM Oxford.” 

At the time, ASOS confirmed it had sealed the takeover of Topshop and three other brands from the collapse of the Arcadia retail empire for £265m.

The online fashion retailer was buying Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT.

Administrators for Sir Philip Green’s retail group said Asos has paid an additional £65m for current and pre-ordered stock.

READ AGAIN: Independent cinema is at risk of closure 

ASOS told investors that it would take on around 300 employees as part of the deal, which will not include any of the brands’ stores.

Arcadia collapsed into insolvency after pandemic closures further exacerbated the group’s troubles.

Now there is nothing to see at the once busy units apart from posters in the windows and homeless people using the doorways to ask for spare change.

Oxford City Council is not the landlord for the property.

While the nearby Westgate Centre appears busy, it has not been possible to find a retail chain prepared to take on the former Topshop/Topman units.

The renovation will improve the appearance of the corner of Queen Street and St Ebbe’s although retail units are being lost.

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: 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 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.