Site Address:                       2 Savile Road, Oxford, OX1 3UA (New College)

Proposal:                              Proposed demolition of Warham House, New College School hall and partial demolition of Savile House rear extension. Erection of three new buildings and reconstruction of Savile House rear extension to provide C2 residential college including Music Hall, assembly, academic and study space, Porter's Lodge and associated accommodation, and replacement D1 facilities for New College School including dining hall, assembly space and class rooms.

Reason at Committee:     Major Development

Recommendation:

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:

a)  Public consultation on revised plans and information not resulting in any new issues being raised that are not dealt with in this report; and

b)  Receiving a revised Energy statement and Air Quality Assessment to the satisfaction of the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services; and

c)  Subject to further conditions as may be necessary in connection with b) above.

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

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 and issue the planning permission.

The Committee considered an application (17/03330/FUL) for planning permission for the proposed demolition of Warham House, New College School hall and partial demolition of Savile House rear extension; the erection of three new buildings and reconstruction of Savile House rear extension to provide C2 residential college including Music Hall, assembly, academic and study space, Porter's Lodge and associated accommodation, and replacement D1 facilities for New College School including dining hall, assembly space and class rooms.

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

·       Sport England had raised no objection

·       Additional conditions relating to archaeology  would need to be included if the application were to be approved

Debbie Dance (Oxford Preservation Trust) and Allan Dodd (Mansfield College) spoke against the application. 

David Palfreyman (New College), David Kohn (David Kohn architects), Chris Pattison (Turnberry Planning) spoke in favour of the application.

The Committee asked questions of the officers and public speakers about the details of the application.In discussion they welcomed the overall scheme for its innovative architectural approach but expressed concerns about the proposed tower.

It was suggested that the application should be deferred to allow planning officers and the applicant to explore possible amendments to the application plans which would address the concerns about the tower. This was formally proposed, seconded and on being put to the vote, agreed by a majority of the Committee.

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to defer this application (17/03330/FUL) to a future meeting to allow planning officers and the applicant to explore possible amendments to the application plans which would address the concerns about the tower.

Councillor Iley-Williamson arrived during this item and consequently took no part in its determination.