Agenda item - 16/03056/FUL: Balliol College Sports Ground, Jowett Walk / Cross Street, Oxford

16/03056/FUL: Balliol College Sports Ground, Jowett Walk / Cross Street, Oxford

Meeting of West Area Planning Committee, Tuesday 11 April 2017 6.00 pm (Item 122.)

Site address: Balliol College Sports Ground, Jowett Walk / Cross Street, Oxford

Proposal: Proposed demolition of existing collegiate accommodation and erection of C2 residential institution including sports pavilion, assembly space and associated accommodation, access and landscape (amended information and revised plans)

Officer recommendation:

West Area Planning Committee is recommended to grant planning permission (16/03056/FUL) for the reasons set out in the report and subject to and including the conditions listed and the satisfactory completion of a S106 legal agreement and delegate to the Head of Planning & Regulatory Services to issue the Decision on satisfactory completion of the S106.

Conditions

1. Time Limit – 3 years to implement

2. Plans – in accordance with approved plans

3. Materials – samples agree prior phase of construction (Excluding demolition)

4. Biodiversity – measures for wildlife (bird bat boxes)

5. Demolition Method Statement – details to be submitted prior commencement.

6. Enabling Works Construction Traffic Management Plan - as approved

7. Construction Traffic Management Plan – details prior to commencement

8. Cycle & bin storage – further details prior to substantial completion

9. Sustainability – in accordance with Energy Statement approved

10. Sustainability – Further details of CHP

11. Revised Drainage Strategy – further details, prior construction excl. demolition

12. SUDs Maintenance Plan – prior occupation

13. Piling method statement – water infrastructure details

14. Landscape plan to be submitted prior to occupation of any phasing

15. Landscape – planting carry out after completion of each phase or substantial completion of whole development.

16. Trees – (Hard Surfaces – tree roots)

17. Trees - (Underground Services – tree roots)

18. Trees - (Tree Protection Plan) as approved

19. Trees - (Arboricultural Method Statement) as approved

20. Details of boundary treatment / entrance gates prior to occupation/ installation

21. Archaeology – WSI as approved

22. Travel Plan – (residential) prior to occupation

23. Student Accommodation and Out of Term Use

24. Student Accommodation – Student Traffic Management Plan as approved

25. Students - No cars

26. Access - Jowett Walk as approved, prior to occupation.

27. Contamination – Watching brief as approved

28. Contamination – Remediation Strategy prior occupation

29. Contamination – Validation Report prior occupation

30. External Lighting – details prior to installation

31. Architectural Recording of buildings to be demolished.

32. Wardens Flat – restrict use

Legal Agreement:

City:

A S106 is required to secure the construction of the development within 3 years in order to mitigate the loss of one unit of family accommodation.

County:

A S278 agreement will be required to:

· relocate the existing vehicular access which will include the removal of a tree, the relocation of the existing phone box and the re-provision of parking bays lost at the access (to include a £2,500 fee for the amendment to the Traffic Regulation Order).

· resurface the junction speed table at the junction of St Cross Road/Manor Road.

A S106 agreement will be required in order for the applicant to pay £1,240 to monitor the site’s travel plan (in line with the county council’s guidance document “Transport for New Developments: Transport Assessments and Travel Plans”).

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report detailing an application (16/03056/FUL) for planning permission for the demolition of existing collegiate accommodation and erection of C2 residential institution including sports pavilion, assembly space and associated accommodation, access and landscape (amended information and revised plans) at Balliol College Sports Ground, Jowett Walk / Cross Street, Oxford.

The Planning Officer presented the report and highlighted the following points:

· the inclusion of an additional condition relating to public art

· there would be no significant loss of protected open space

· the boundary treatment would be “transparent” to allow glimpsed views of the sports grounds

· the development would provide for an identified need for student accommodation and associated College facilities of an appropriate and high quality design and form

· any loss of trees that are important within public views are partly mitigated by new planting

· any harm to designated and non-designated heritage assets is outweighed in this case by the high quality design and public benefits of the proposed development

Julian Read spoke against the application.

Drummond Bone (applicant), Niall McLaughlin (architect) and Chris Pattison (agent) spoke in favour of the application.

In discussion the Committee noted that although the net loss of 3 units of family housing was contrary to local policy the revised National Planning Policy Guidance advice and appeal decision on a case in Cambridge were material to this application. They acknowledged the planning officers’ advice that on balance the benefits of the scheme and the equivalent release to the market by provided for Balliol students (undergrad and post-grad), to be secured by a legal agreement, outweighs the net loss of residential housing and an exception to policy is justified.

The Committee suggested that, as part of the landscape plan, consideration might be given to increasing the number of replacement trees.

In response to a query from the Committee the Planning Officer confirmed that the timescale for the scheme (as stated in Condition 1 and the s106 agreement) should be 4 years.

The Committee commended the scheme for its high quality design.

In reaching their decision, the Committee considered the officers report, presentation and the address of the public speakers.

On being put to the vote the Committee agreed with the officer recommendation.

Decision

The Committee resolved toapprove application (16/03056/FUL) for the reasons set out in the report and including the (amended) conditions listed and the satisfactory completion of a S106 legal agreement and delegate to the Head of Planning & Regulatory Services to issue the Decision on satisfactory completion of the S106.