The Committee considered an application (22/00409/FUL) for the demolition of squash courts, gardener’s shed, existing porter's lodge and existing accommodation building; construction of three accommodation buildings to house 51 student study bedrooms, associated communal spaces and landscape on the existing tennis courts site; construction of a new Porter's Lodge and associated office facilities to replace the existing Porter's Lodge and Clock Tower; construction of a new single storey informal study space to replace the existing glass house; construction of a new dining hall and associated facilities replacing the existing Doll building and change of use of residential gardens and retention of building used as a college gym at Green Templeton College, Woodstock Road, Oxford.

The Planning Officer gave a presentation and highlighted the following:

·        The application related to development on three parcels of land on the Green Templeton College site which lay to the north of the Radcliffe Observatory quarter: the Tennis Court site (surrounded by a Grade II listed boundary wall), the Dining Hall site and the Gym.  With the exception of the Gym, the site lay within the North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area; the Gym building lay within the Walton Manor Conservation Area.  The site was also considered to fall within the wider setting of the Central and Jericho Conservation Areas.

·        The proposal for the Tennis Court site included an arrangement of three buildings, centred around an internal garden, containing 53 student rooms in a mix of ensuite and studio rooms.  The existing Porter’s Lodge and Gatehouse building would be removed and replaced with a new Porter’s Lodge building consisting of reception, office and meeting spaces.  A new café space would attach to Building A on the western side of the site, replacing the Observatory Garden.  A new building was proposed on the site of the Richard Doll building, consisting of dining spaces (re-located from the Observatory building), and kitchen space.  The proposal included the retention of the single storey Gym building, located to the north of the Dining Hall.

·        The site was considered appropriate for student accommodation as it was on an existing college campus site.  It was considered that the siting of the student housing would comply with Policy H8 of the Oxford Local Plan.

·        The proposal included the loss of the existing tennis and squash courts.  Officers considered that alternative appropriate provision existed within the area and would be available to students, such that the loss of these facilities would not be harmful in terms of sports provision for students.  The Gym, which was a highly valued facility, would be retained. Sport England had raised no objection to the proposals, which were therefore considered to comply with Policy G5 of the Oxford Local Plan.

·        No additional car parking was proposed: cycle parking was included and would be secured by condition.

·        The proposals involved a new opening within the Grade II listed boundary wall, providing a gated entrance giving access into the garden area.

·        Whilst the Richard Doll building appeared aesthetically well-designed, there were functionality  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60