The Committee considered an application (23/00388/FUL) for the demolition of 2 no. canopies to the north elevation and formation of 1 no. canopy to the main entrance; replacement cladding to all elevations; replacement cladding and rooflights to all roofs; and replacement window and fire exit doors at UYS Ltd, Garsington Road, Oxford.

The Planning Officer gave a presentation and highlighted the following:

·            The County Highways Team had raised no objection to the development.

·            The site comprised a large industrial building on the edge of the city.  In addition to the building it consisted of an area of existing car park and hardstanding, with access via a security-controlled gate from Garsington Road through the adjacent Unipart site.

·            The building was well-screened, and visible only from selected views.

·            The building was currently clad in metal sheeting and composite material, coloured in blue and white, which had been extensively damaged as a result of a sprinkler system malfunction during the winter which had led to flooding in areas of the building.  The cladding had also been identified as a potential fire risk.  The proposal included the replacement of the existing cladding across the whole building with new cladding coloured in dark and light grey, and the demolition of a small entrance canopy to the front of the building which would be replaced by a new entrance lobby.

·            It was considered that the new cladding represented an improvement on the existing, which had faded and was in poor condition.  It would also offer improved fire safety.  The proposals were considered to represent necessary works which were required in order to bring the building back into operational employment use, and was therefore considered by officers to be justified in accordance with policies E1 and SP7 of the Oxford Local Plan.  In design terms the proposal was considered to offer enhancement on the appearance of the existing building and accord with policy DH1 of the Local Plan.  The proposals were considered to have no adverse impacts in respect of amenity, nor any other environmental impacts.  The application was therefore recommended for approval for the reasons set out in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in the report.

On being proposed, seconded and put to the vote the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application for the reasons set out in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in the report.

The Oxford City 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.