Site address:                   30A Jericho Street, Oxford, OX2 6BU

Proposal:                          Replacement of existing garage door with 3no. windows in association with conversion of existing garage into habitable space, erection of first floor rear extension, formation of rear juliet balcony to second floor, insertion of 2no. rooflights to rear elevation, installation of green roof to rear and installation of cladding to rear elevation. Alterations to existing front and rear fenestration, insertion of 2no. rooflights to front elevation, insertion of 6no. rooflights over stairwell to front elevation and alterations to existing first floor terrace.

Reason at Committee     The application is before the committee because it was called in by the Head of Planning Services following concerns from councillors about the impact on neighbouring amenity.

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 the report and grant planning permission.

2.     agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.

The Committee considered an application (20/01638/FUL) for the replacement of existing garage door with 3no. windows in association with conversion of existing garage into habitable space, erection of first floor rear extension, formation of rear juliet balcony to second floor, insertion of 2no. rooflights to rear elevation, installation of green roof to rear and installation of cladding to rear elevation. Alterations to existing front and rear fenestration, insertion of 2no. rooflights to front elevation, insertion of 6no. rooflights over stairwell to front elevation and alterations to existing first floor terrace.

The Planning Officer presented the report and referred the Committee to one minor typographical error and clarification of paragraph 10.31 to make it clear that National Planning Policy Guidance regarded the development proposed to be acceptable in Flood Zone Two.

Cynthia Watson (Resident) spoke against the application.

Theo Svoronos (agent) spoke in support of the application.

The Committee considered a number of points of detail on the application including but not limited to the following. The building was in a conservation area and the proposals before the Committee had been subject to refinement as a result of input from officers in the application process. Furthermore the applicant had brought forward a proposal for a high quality, contemporary building which, while not a pastiche of the surrounding buildings, echoed some of the features of those buildings. The officer report made it clear that the proposal was not judged to cause harm to the conservation area.

The Committee sought reassurance that the window which opened onto Jericho Street would be of a design which did not obstruct or be a cause of possible injury to passers by and it was agreed that officers should be asked to secure details of this arrangement.

In reaching its decision the West Area Planning Committee considered all the information put before it. On being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officers’ recommendation to approve the application. 

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 grant planning permission; and

2.    Delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.