Site address: Site South of Armstrong Road, Oxford.

Proposal: Details of reserved matters (layout, scale, appearance, landscaping and access) pursuant to planning application 18/02231/VAR (variation of condition 3 (approved plans and documents) to revise indicative parameters plans and condition 18 (noise levels) to revise residential noise levels of planning permission 14/02940/OUT as varied by 14/02940/NMA and 14/02940/NMA2 (Outline planning application (with all matters reserved) seeking permission for up to 270 residential dwellings to incorporate a maximum of 92 houses on 2 to 3 floors of 1 to 4 bedrooms with one dwelling being a house with 5 bedrooms and 178 flats of 1 to 4 bedrooms on 2 to 5 floors. Provision of car parking, cycle and bin storage, landscaping and ancillary works. (Amended plans and additional information)

Recommendation:  East 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 within Section 12 of the report and grant Reserved Matters Approval; and

2.    delegate authority to the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services to:

(a)  issue the decision subject to the grant of planning application 18/2231/VAR and the variation of the S106 attached to that permission varied, and decision issued;

(b)  finalising the recommended conditions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

(c)  if approval cannot be granted, to recommend refusal for reasons as considered necessary by the Acting Head of Planning Services.

The Committee considered an application for planning permission for the details of reserved matters (layout, scale, appearance, landscaping and access) pursuant to planning application 18/02231/VAR [(variation of condition 3 (approved plans and documents) to revise indicative parameters plans and condition 18 (noise levels) to revise residential noise levels of planning permission 14/02940/OUT as varied by 14/02940/NMA and 14/02940/NMA2 (Outline planning application (with all matters reserved) ] seeking permission for up to 270 residential dwellings to incorporate a maximum of 92 houses on 2 to 3 floors of 1 to 4 bedrooms with one dwelling being a house with 5 bedrooms and 178 flats of 1 to 4 bedrooms on 2 to 5 floors; provision of car parking, cycle and bin storage, landscaping and ancillary works (amended plans and additional information) for Littlemore Park, Armstrong Road.

The Planning Officer read out a number of amendments to the report:

·         Para 6.4 – amend the housing mix to show the correct figures of 24 x 1bed; 162 x 2bed; 56 x 3 bed and 28 x 4-5bed asset out in para 10.15

·         Para 10.12 – the 5bed unit will accommodate 7 people (not the 4bed unit)

·         Para 10.54 – 14 wheelchair accessible units (not 16) but still policy compliant

·         Para 10.64 – reference is to para 196 of the NPPF

·         Para 10.72 – reference is to H3 and H7

·         Para 10.88 – 688 cycle spaces will be provided in total

·         To specify that the S278 agreement referred to in paras 10.78 and 10.84 is secured by condition.

·         Recommendation – recommended and the committee agreed as set out in the decision below to clarify and take account of the required agreements and conditions

She clarified the consideration of the weightings of harm and public benefit tests in the NPPF in para 10.69 and the conclusion that the public benefits of the delivery of housing outweighed the minor harm to the setting of the listed building.

Sue Stewart from Littlemore Parish Council spoke against the application. The Parish Council was mostly in favour but raised concerns about access to the Science Park; the increase in traffic (including after the SAE Institute closes in November and new occupiers move in); the bus service would need to improve to cope with more residents; and the need for traffic calming.

Chris Struthers (representing the applicant, Catalyst) spoke in support of the application.

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered all the information put before it including the officer’s report and presentation; the speakers’ presentations; answers to questions put to the officers; and officers’ professional advice.

On being proposed, seconded and put to the vote the Committee agreed to approve the application, with the officer’s revised recommendation and the inclusion of a condition to secure and agree the details of a suitable bridge and/or foot/cycle path link to the science park and railway.

The East Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.    approve application 18/02303/RES for the reasons given in the report and subject to (2) below and the required planning conditions set out within Section 12 of the report and the additional condition(s) referred to above and grant Reserved Matters Approval; and

2.    delegate authority to the Head of Planning, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Services to:

(a)  issue the decision following the grant of planning permission for application 18/2231/VAR and the completion of a Deed of Variation to the section 106 agreement with this Council which was required in respect of this site for the original outline permission 14/02940/OUT;

(b)  finalise the recommended conditions including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; a condition to agree details of links and/or bridge to the science park and railway; and a condition to secure enhanced highway works through a revised S278 agreement; and

(c)  if approval cannot be granted, to refuse the application for such reasons as the Acting Head of Planning Services considers necessary.