Site address: Unit 11, Kings Meadow, Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford

Proposal: Change of Use from hair dressing training company with ancillary workshop (Use Class E) to a Day Nursery (Use Class E(f)). Removal of 1no. roller shutter door and insertion of 3no. windows to front elevation and alterations to existing front door. Insertion of 3no. Decisions come into effect after the post-meeting councillor call in period expires, or after a called-in decision is reconsidered and the Head of Planning Services has issued the formal decision notice. Oxford City Council, Town Hall, St Aldate’s Oxford OX1 1BX windows to side elevation.

The Oxford City Planning Committee resolved to:

1.    Refuse planning permission for the application for the reasons given in paragraph 1.2 of this report and to delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Regulation to:

•       finalise the reason for refusal including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Director of Planning and Regulation considers reasonably necessary.

2.    The recommended reasons for refusal are as follows:

•       The proposals would involve the use of the application site for a more vulnerable use in the context of flooding in a location that falls within the defined area of highest risk of flooding (Flood Zone 3b). In addition to this the submitted Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) fails to sufficiently consider flood risk as set out in paragraphs 20 to 21 of the Flood Risk and Coastal Change Planning Practice Guidance and its site-specific flood risk assessment checklist. The application is therefore unacceptable in the context of Policy RE3 of the Oxford Local Plan (2036), Paragraph 170 of the NPPF and the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).

•       The proposed development fails to provide adequate cycle parking for staff, parents or visitors travelling to the nursery. As a result the proposed development would be contrary to Policy M5 of the Oxford Local Plan (2036).