18/00258/FUL and 18/00933/VAR

Cllr Cook - as a Council appointed trustee for Oxford Preservation Trust and as a member of the Oxford Civic Society stated that he had taken no part in those organisations’ discussions or decision making regarding the applications and was approaching them with an open mind.

Cllr Upton - as a Council appointed trustee for Oxford Preservation Trust stated that she had taken no part in any discussions or decision making by those organisations that may have taken place regarding these applications.

Oxford Heritage Asset Register nominations 2018

Cllr Hollingsworth - as Vice Chair of the Cripley Meadow Allotments Association said he had had no involvement in the proposals for Castle Mill Stream and Fiddlers Island Stream to be added to the Oxford Heritage Register but would not take part in the decision on those nominations.Meadow Allotments Association

Site address: Northgate House, 13 - 20 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, OX1 3HE

Proposal: Application for planning permission for the demolition of the existing building to ground level and the erection of a replacement building to provide replacement commercial units on the basement, ground and first floors, and new teaching facilities, ancillary accommodation and student fellows rooms on the upper floors for Jesus College. (Amended Plans)                               

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

(a) Approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of this report and grant planning permission subject to:

(b) Agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services to:

1. Finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services considers reasonably necessary.

The Committee considered an application (18/00258/FUL) for planning permission for the demolition of the existing building to ground level and the erection of a replacement building to provide replacement commercial units on the basement, ground and first floors, and new teaching facilities, ancillary accommodation and student fellows rooms on the upper floors for Jesus College. (Amended Plans)

The Planning Officer introduced the report, noting the addition of two additional  conditions (to seek a phasing and materials plan for the surfacing works to Market Street and to seek active retail frontages onto Market Street ) and the correction of the reference to Section 12 in recommendation 1.1 (a) which should read Section 11.

The proposal provided an excellent opportunity to reinvigorate that part of Market Street and Cornmarket.  The current building gave a ‘back of house’ sense onto Market Street.  The proposals would see a new principal entrance to the college from Market Street and  open up the public realm. The report set out the reasons for the officer recommendation, the principal ones of which were:

• There was no material reason to object
• The deployment of the  commercial element was flexible and would contribute to the need to re-energise Cornmarket following the Westgate development
• The scheme  represented an important opportunity to redevelop the area and had the potential to act as a positive catalyst for other users in the immediate vicinity
• The expansion of the public realm
• The development of a ‘front of house’ sense in Market Street.
• The scheme would expose a grade one listed building which is currently hidden from view
• The scheme had been subject to extensive pre-application work and consultation, all views from which had been taken into account. This included positive support from both Historic England and Oxford Civic Society and two sessions with the Design Review Panel, both before and after publication of proposals.
• All anticipated views of the new building fitted well into the Cornmarket Street scene and represented a significant improvement in the case of Market Street.
• The “Gatehouse” tower element of the scheme had been subject to revision following the pre-application phase, notably a reduction in height to 21.3 m and some changes in design detail . This was above the City’s benchmark of 18.2 m for new build but  this was not an absolute limit . All cases had to be judged on their merits and assessments made of the harm that would be caused by height. Support for proposals in excess of the benchmark was not given lightly. In this case the anticipated skyline views from a variety of directions were considered improved by the scheme.

Debbie Dance, representing the Oxford Presentation Trust spoke against the application. 

Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt (Jesus College), Stuart Cade (Architect), and Simon Sharp (JPPC) spoke in favour of the application. David Stevenson (Jesus College) attended to respond to questions

The Committee discussion included, but was not limited to the following points:  

·         The extent to which the public had engaged with the various consultation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

Site address: 18 Hawkswell Gardens, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX2 7EX                    

Proposal: Variation of conditions 2 (approved plans) and  3 (materials) of planning permission 15/02352/FUL (Erection of 3 x 6 bedrooms dwellinghouses (Use Class C3). Provision of car parking spaces, private amenity space, bins and cycle stores (amended plans) to allow change of main roofing material to natural slate, change of the general finish to external walls, replacement of velux with dormer window on the front elevation, flat lead roof proposed to front porches and relocation of bin and cycle storage (amended description).                            

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

(a) Approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of this report and grant planning permission; and

(b) Agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services to:

1. Finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services considers reasonably necessary;

The Committee considered an application (18/00933/VAR) for variation of conditions 2 (approved plans) and  3 (materials) of planning permission 15/02352/FUL (Erection of 3 x 6 bedrooms dwellinghouses (Use Class C3). Provision of car parking spaces, private amenity space, bins and cycle stores (amended plans) to allow change of main roofing material to natural slate, change of the general finish to external walls, replacement of velux with dormer window on the front elevation, flat lead roof proposed to front porches and relocation of bin and cycle storage (amended description).    

The Planning Officer presented the report, reminding the Committee that it simply sought agreement to variation of conditions for a proposal which had originally been refused and then allowed on appeal.

The Committee asked that condition 8 (submission and approval of Construction Method Statement) should be robustly enforced.

On being put to the vote the Committee agreed with the officer recommendation as set out in the report.

The Committee resolved to:

a)    Approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report and grant planning permission; and

b)   Delegate authority to the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services considers reasonably necessary.

Site address: Multiple sites throughout the City                      

Proposal: To consider nominations for addition to the Oxford Heritage Asset Register.                          

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

Approve or reject proposed nominations.

Councillor Iley-Williamson joined the meeting at 19.10, prior to the presentation of this item and was able to participate in its determination.

The Committee considered a report setting out proposed nominations within the wards falling within the Committee’s remit for addition to the Oxford Heritage Asset Register (OHAR)

The  Heritage Team Leader noted that the inclusion of South Park in the list of nominations  had been in error as South Park is already in a conservation area and therefore doesn’t meet the criteria for inclusion because it already benefits from the greater protection afforded by conservation area status. The Committee was therefore recommended to reject the proposal that it be added to the OHAR.

In response to questions the Heritage Team Leader explained the rationale for the inclusion of Castle Mill and Fiddlers Island Streams; Brasenose Squash Courts; 109-111 Magdalen Road; and 76 Lonsdale Road.

The Chair proposed that the nominations to add both Castle Mill Stream and Fiddlers Island Stream to the OHAR be rejected on the grounds that it is illogical to seek to protect water.  A reconfigured proposal that might, for example, seek to protect the river bed or banks would make more sense.

After discussion and taking account of all the points raised, on being to the vote, the majority of the Committee agreed that:

1.    Castle Mill Stream should not be added to the OHAR (without prejudice to a revised proposal coming forward in the future);  

2.    Fiddlers Island Stream be added to the OHAR;

3.    76 Lonsdale Road should not be added to the OHAR;

4.    The remainder of the nominations that were recommended for approval, with the exception of South Park, should be added to the OHAR;  

5.    The remainder of the nominations that were recommended for rejection, with the inclusion of South Park, not be added to the OHAR.

The Committee resolved to ACCEPT the following nominations:-

1.         The site of the Franciscan (Greyfriars) Priory

2.         Brasenose Squash Courts

3.         Bridge over Bulstake Stream, Binsey Lane

4.         Fiddlers Island Stream

5.         109-111 Magdalen Road

6.         1-9 Cyprus Terrace

7.         Oriel College playing fields

8.         South Oxford Community Centre

9.         Site of Osney Abbey

10.       4 South Parade

11.       5-6 South Parade

12.       United Reformed (formerly congregational church), Banbury Road

13.       Warneford Meadow

The Committee resolved to REJECT the following nominations:

1. Castle Mill Stream

2. The Wareham Stream

3. Fisher Row

4. The Hollybush Inn

5. Oriel Square historic paving

6. South Park

7. 76 Lonsdale Road

To approve as a true and accurate record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2018.

The Committee resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2018 as a true and accurate record.

Items for consideration by the committee at future meetings are listed for information. They are not for discussion at this meeting.

The Committee noted the list of forthcoming applications. The Planning Officer to confirm whether 18/00896/FUL (the Mitre) should be on the list.

The Committee will meet at 6.00pm on the following dates:

The Committee noted the dates of future meetings.