The Acting Head of Planning Services (Planning Policy) has submitted a report asking Cabinet to consider the public comments made on the Draft West End Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), the proposed changes in response, and to consider adoption of the revised SPD and supporting documents.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.       Adopt the revised West End and Osney Mead Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), having considered the public comments received on the Draft West End SPD; the Spatial Framework and Design Guide and the proposed changes in response;

2.       Approve the West End and Osney Mead SPD as a ‘material consideration’ in determining planning applications on sites in the West End;

3.       Authorise the Acting Head of Planning Services (Planning Policy), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, to make any necessary editorial corrections to the West End and Osney Mead SPD prior to publication; and

4.       Approve the revocation of the Oxpens Masterplan SPD and the Oxford Station SPD.

Please note that Appendix 3 – Spatial Framework and Appendix 4 – Design Guide are published as a separate supplement.

The Acting Head of Planning Services (Planning Policy) had submitted a report asking Cabinet to consider the public comments made on the draft West End Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), the proposed changes in response, and to consider adoption of the revised SPD and supporting documents.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, reported that the document represented the outcome of a significant amount of work by the Council’s Planning team and its consultants.  The SPD did not alter existing policies within the Local Plan; however, it did provide more detailed guidance, particularly within the design guide, on how those sites were expected to be brought forward by landowners or developers in due course.  As such, it represented a template for a transformative vision for that part of the city.  The document covered a significant geographical area which included the Osney Mead estate, the Oxpens site, the extended railway station site, and various Nuffield College owned sites.

It was noted that some comments received during the SPD consultation had related to elements of the Local Plan rather than the SPD.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery reported that the next consultation on the Local Plan 2040 was due to take place in 2023 and would offer an opportunity for representations to be made.  Planning officers would have regard to comments which had been made as part of the SPD consultation but which had, in fact, related to the Local Plan.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.    Adopt the revised West End and Osney Mead Supplementary Planning Document, having considered the public comments received on the Draft West End SPD; the Spatial Framework and Design Guide and the proposed changes in response;

2.    Approve the West End and Osney Mead SPD as a ‘material consideration’ in determining planning applications on sites in the West End;

3.    Authorise the Acting Head of Planning Services (Planning Policy) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery, to make any necessary editorial corrections to the West End and Osney Mead SPD prior to publication; and

4.    Approve the revocation of the Oxpens Masterplan SPD and the Oxford Station SPD.