Councillor Cook stated that he was a Council appointed trustee for Oxford Preservation Trust, a member of Oxford Civic Society and an employee of the University.  However, he had taken no part in those organisations’ discussions or decision making regarding any of the applications before the Committee and that he was approaching the applications with an open mind, would listen to all the arguments and weigh up all the relevant facts before coming to a decision.

18/03384/FUL: Councillor Hollingsworth stated that, through his position on the City Executive Board, he was a shareholder of Oxford City Housing Group. Although he did not have a disclosable pecuniary interest, as he had no personal benefit from the outcome of the application, to avoid any public perception of bias he would not take part in the determination of the application and he would leave the meeting for that item.

Councillor Hollingsworth left the meeting.

Site address:           15-17 Elsfield Hall, Elsfield Way, Oxford, OX2 8EP   

Proposal:                Demolition and relocation of the existing Cadet Hut (D2 Use Class) and the redevelopment of the Site to include erection of a 3 storey apartment block providing 26no. residential flats (C3 Use Class) comprising 9no. 1-bed and 17no. 2-bed apartments with associated access, parking and landscape arrangements.                

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.     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

2.     agree to delegate authority to the Acting Head of Planning Services to:

a.     decide the best means of controlling the provision of affordable housing across both this site and the site at Cumberlege Close whether though a planning condition or a legal agreement made pursuant to section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers

b.     Finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary and if necessary, the terms of any legal agreement referred to above.

The Committee considered an application (18/03384/FUL) for planning permission for the demolition and relocation of the existing Cadet Hut (D2 Use Class) and the redevelopment of the site to include the erection of a 3 storey apartment block providing 26 residential flats (C3 Use Class), comprising nine 1-bed and seventeen 2-bed apartments with associated access, parking and landscape arrangements.

The Planning Officer presented the report and gave the following updates:

·        Revised plans, received on 8 March 2019, included a widening of the footpath access onto Elsfield Way and an enlargement of the pedestrian gated access onto Elsfield Way.

·        On 6 March 2019 the East Area Planning Committee granted a resolution to approve the linked planning application for 9 dwellings at Cumberlege Close.

·        The Council’s Flood Mitigation Officer had confirmed that the updated FRA’s/drainage strategies have demonstrated that there is a feasible indicative drainage strategy, the details of which could be obtained via condition.

·        Thames Water had confirmed that they had no objection subject to a planning condition that no piling should take place until a piling method statement has been provided to prevent damage to sewerage infrastructure.

·        Oxfordshire County Council (Highways) had raised concerns about the lack of safe pedestrian access to Elsfield Hall (paragraph 9.5 of the report). Following clarification that Elsfield Hall would be accessed principally from the north as the new main access to the office building, they had confirmed that they would no longer be objecting on the basis of pedestrian access to the site.

Alison Noel, on behalf of the Harefields and Marriott Close Residents’ Group, spoke against the application. 

Lila Haracz (on behalf of the applicant, Oxford City Housing Limited), Simon Lea (Architect) and James Cogan (Planning Consultant) spoke in favour of the application.

In discussion the Committee noted the following points:

·       That there was no legal reason why the assessment of affordable housing for this application could not be linked with the affordable housing provision at the development at Cumberlege Close

·       That the gated access for the office accommodation at Elsfield Hall was a requirement of the covenant on the site but that it would not be appropriate, or necessary, for the remainder of the development.

·       That the site was located on a very sensitive area for air quality due to the proximity with the A40 and Cutteslowe roundabout. The application included an Air Quality Assessment which the City Council’s Air Quality Officer had judged to be acceptable subject to appropriate measures which would be secured by planning condition. 

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered all the information put before it.  The Committee welcomed the proposed development as it would make an important contribution to the much needed provision of affordable accommodation in the city

After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application subject to the inclusion of two additional conditions on piling and air quality.

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.     approve the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Site address:           The Observatory, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RQ     

Proposal:                Installation of a welfare compound and erection of modular buildings for a temporary period in connection with Biochemistry Phase 2 construction works.                

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.     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

2.     agree to delegate authority to the Acting Head of Planning Services to:

a.     finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

b.     issue the planning permission.

The Committee considered an application (18/03383/FUL) for planning permission for the installation of a welfare compound and erection of modular buildings for a temporary period in connection with Biochemistry Phase 2 construction works.

The Planning Officer presented the report and advised that, since the agenda was published, the applicant had provided a construction travel management plan (CTMP) as requested by the County Council. The County Council had approved the CTMP so Condition 10 would be amended accordingly by officers.

Steven Roberts (agent) and Richard Jones (on behalf of the applicant) spoke in favour of the application.

The Committee noted the following points:

·       The harm of the visual impact of the modular cabins was limited because it was for a temporary period only and they would be set against the backdrop of the University Science buildings.

·       The material planning considerations that weighed in favour of the application included the need for welfare facilities close to the building site, the contribution that the Biochemistry facility will make in social and economic terms, which is facilitated by this development, and the opportunity for the site area to have a more sympathetic treatment at the end of the temporary period which would be a heritage benefit.

After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application.

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.     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

2.     delegate authority to the Acting Head of Planning Services to:

a.     finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

issue the planning permission.

Site address:           Government Building, Floyds Row, Oxford, OX1 1SS

Proposal:                Change of use from job centre (sui generis) to emergency hostel accommodation together with associated communal facilities and services and a daytime assessment hub (sui generis) for a temporary period of five years.           

Recommendation:

The West Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.     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

2.     agree to delegate authority to the Acting Head of Planning Services to:

a.     consider and deal with any new material planning considerations that may be raised through public consultation up to 13 March 2019 including deciding whether it is necessary to refer the application back to the committee prior to issuing the permission;

b.     finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

c.     issue the planning permission.

The Committee considered an application (19/00128/CT3) for planning permission for the change of use from job centre (sui generis) to emergency hostel accommodation together with associated communal facilities and services and a daytime assessment hub (sui generis) for a temporary period of five years.

The Planning Officer presented the report and advised the Committee that Thames Valley Police had submitted some comments on the application which had been received after the agenda was published.  The comments related to suggested improvements to the site security and internal access and as such were not a material planning matter.  The comments had, however, been forwarded to the applicant to consider. 

Polly McKinley, Senior Commissioning Officer Housing Services, Oxford City Council spoke in support of the application.

The Committee endorsed the conclusions presented in the officer report that although the proposal did not fully align with local plan policies relating to employment uses, it was for a temporary period and there was an acute need for the facility to provide services for homeless people in the city and these two material planning considerations weighed in favour of the change of use.

The Committee noted that the final arrangements for car and cycle parking would be secured by conditions 3 and 6 and would be based on known operational need. Nevertheless, the Committee encouraged the applicant to provide sufficient secure cycle parking for residents, employees and visitors and to aim to reduce the car parking provision to single figures.

The Committee welcomed the application as it would provide a much needed facility to address the housing and homelessness situation in the city.

After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application.

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.     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

2.     delegate authority to the Acting Head of Planning Services to:

a.     consider and deal with any new material planning considerations that may be raised through public consultation up to 13 March 2019 including deciding whether it is necessary to refer the application back to the committee prior to issuing the permission;

b.     finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

c.     issue the planning permission.

Recommendation: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2019 as a true and accurate record.

The Committee resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 February 2019 as a true and accurate record.

Items currently expected to be considered by the committee at future meetings are listed for information. This is not a definitive list and applications may be added or removed at any point. These are not for discussion at this meeting.

The Committee noted the list of forthcoming applications.

Future meetings of the Committee are scheduled at 6.00pm on

The Committee noted the dates of future meetings.