Proposal: Proposed erection of two linked Class B1 office buildings with associated landscaping, car parking, infrastructure and related works.

Site address: Plot 16, Oxford Science Park, Robert Robinson Avenue, Oxford, OX4 4GA.

Reason at Committee: The proposals are for a major development which was previously considered by the East Area Planning Committee on the 4th December 2019, when the Committee resolved to delegate the approval of the application to the Head of Planning Services subject to the prior completion of a legal agreement. Material amendments to the approved plans have subsequently been proposed, namely the phased construction of the development to prioritise the development of Building A. The application has been brought back before the committee to consider these changes.

The 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 in section 12 of the report and grant planning permission subject to:

·         the satisfactory completion of a legal agreement under section.106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations set out in the recommended heads of terms which are set out in the report; 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; and

·         Finalise the recommended legal agreement under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers as set out in the report, including refining, adding to, amending and/or deleting the obligations detailed in the heads of terms set out in this report (including to dovetail with and where appropriate, reinforce the final conditions and informatives to be attached to the planning permission) as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·         Complete the section 106 legal agreement referred to in the report and issue the planning permission.

The Committee considered an application (20/03198/FUL) for planning permission for the proposed erection of two linked Class B1 office buildings with associated landscaping, car parking, infrastructure and related works.

The Planning Officer presented the report. He recommended the inclusion of an extra condition for the management and maintenance of the surface water drainage. He confirmed that an updated energy strategy had been submitted and accepted since the publication of the report.

Emma Andrews and Rory Maw, representing the applicant, spoke in favour of the application and answered questions from the Committee.

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered all the information put before it.

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 conditions and to the completion of a legal agreement with the inclusion of an additional condition relating to the management and maintenance of surface water drainage.

The East 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 the inclusion of an additional condition relating to the management and maintenance of surface water drainage and to grant planning permission subject to:

·       The satisfactory completion of a legal agreement under section.106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations set out in the recommended heads of terms which were set out in the report; 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; and

·       Finalise the recommended legal agreement under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers as set out in the report, including refining, adding to, amending and/or deleting the obligations detailed in the heads of terms set out in the report (including to dovetail with and where appropriate, reinforce the final conditions and informatives to be attached to the planning permission) as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·       Complete the section 106 legal agreement referred to above and issue the planning permission.