Site address:                      16 East Street, Oxford, OX2 0AU  

Proposal:                           Variation of condition 2 (Develop in accordance with approved plans) of planning permission 19/00249/FUL (Demolition of existing workshop (Use Class B1) to erect a two storey yoga workshop (Use Class D2). Provision of cycle spaces. (amended description) to allow changes to fenestration, rooflights, roof structure and flood void arrangement 

Reason at Committee       This application seeks to vary the approved plans of an application which was decided by members at planning committee.

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 for planning permission for the variation of condition 2 (Develop in accordance with approved plans) of planning permission 19/00249/FUL (Demolition of existing workshop (Use Class B1) to erect a two storey yoga workshop (Use Class D2). Provision of cycle spaces (amended description) to allow changes to fenestration, rooflights, roof structure and flood void arrangement at 16 East Street, Oxford, OX2 0AU.

In presenting the report, the Planning Officer explained that the applicant had now discharged condition 5 of the original planning permission, 19/00249/FUL. Officers therefore proposed to update condition 5 in Section 12 of the report to read:

“The proposed development shall take place in accordance with the submitted letter of intent, confirming a contract between the applicant and contractors for the demolition of the existing building and construction of a building shell, (dated 13/1/21) approved under application reference 19/00249/CND4”

Reason:-  to ensure that the premature demolition of the buildings does not take place to the detriment of the special character and appearance of the Conservation Area,  in accordance with Policies DH1 And DH3 Oxford Local Plan 2036.

The Planning Officer informed the Committee that work had commenced on demolishing the existing building as all of the pre-commencement conditions attached to the original permission had been discharged.

Vernon Orr and Bianca Elgar (local residents) spoke objecting to the application. They referred to the consultation process and questioned the validity of the application’s supporting paperwork.

Adrian James (the architect and agent) spoke in support of the application.

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered all the information put before it, including answers to the points raised by the speakers. After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application.

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.      approve application 20/02768/VAR for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of the report, with the amended wording for condition 5, 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.