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 for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report and two further conditions on piling and air quality mitigation as identified above; and

2.     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 through a planning condition and/or a legal agreement made pursuant to section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers; and

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 if necessary, the terms of any legal agreement referred to above.

Councillor Hollingsworth returned to the meeting at the conclusion of this item.