The Committee considered an application (23/02411/FUL) for the erection of accommodation for boarding pupils to include access, landscaping, associated bin/recycling stage, cycle storage and associated development at land north of Charlbury Road, Oxford.

The Planning Officer gave a presentation and highlighted the following:

·      A further representation had been received following the publication of the officer’s report which had been circulated to committee members.  This had covered matters relating to the statutory consultation period carried out on amended plans; the drainage strategy; flood risk assessment; and consultation with the Environment Agency. 

·      The Planning Officer clarified that amendment had been made to the red line site location plan and the site plan and this had been re-advertised for a period of 21 days starting on 10 June.  The consultation period had therefore now expired.  Amendments were made to other statutory reports on 28 June; however, these changes were only to correct the red line plan on technical reports such as the drainage strategy.  They were therefore considered to be immaterial when considering the merits of the application.  Officers were satisfied that no development was proposed outside of the red line area and that all parties had been given appropriate notice.

·      The drainage strategy did not rely on drainage into the western ditch, which was not within the red line area of the site.  Fencing could be provided within the application site to provide separation between the development site and the adjoining Cherwell School.  Officers were satisfied that the development would not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere, and this view was shared by the County Council as the Lead Local Flood Authority.  The Environment Agency had also been consulted on the application but had chosen not to issue formal comments, referring instead to its standing guidance. 

·      The application proposed removal of the existing tennis courts and development of three buildings to provide pupil boarding accommodation for 120 pupils within 81 rooms for use by Wychwood School.  The accommodation would include a mix of shared and single rooms.  Three staff flats (one two-bedroomed flat in each building) were also proposed.  Parking would be provided for 7 vehicles, with access from Charlbury Road to the south.  The applicant had agreed to a financial contribution of £150,000, to be secured by a Section 106 agreement, to mitigate the loss of the tennis courts: this would be directed to existing publicly accessible tennis provision in north Oxford at either Cutteslowe Park or Alexandra Park.  This was considered to be an enhancement in terms of wider sports provision relative to the existing tennis courts at the site which were under the private ownership of the school and was therefore considered to be in accordance with Policy G5 of the Oxford Local Plan and Policy HCS3 of the Summertown and St Margaret’s Neighbourhood Plan.

·      A site management plan would be secured by legal agreement.  This would be a key document in managing the potential impact on residential amenity, including management of the use of outside spaces and use  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16