There were no declarations of interest.

Proposal: Erection of building to provide 4 x 3-bed, 3 x 2-bed and 2 x 1-bed apartments. Provision of amenity space, 20 No. car parking spaces and cycle store. Formation of new vehicular access from Lewis Close (Amended plans)

Site address: Land Adjacent 4 Wychwood Lane, Oxford, OX3 8HG

Recommendation: East Area Planning Committee is recommended to:-

a)    REFUSE planning permission for the following reasons:

1.    The proposed development, by reason of its scale, siting, layout, height, form and external appearance, will introduce an incongruous and alien backland development, at odds with the sensitive rural verdant character of this edge of city location, and the prevailing pattern and character of development in the area.  Such an inappropriate development would cause harm to the visual amenity of the area, including harm to public views from the neighbouring CS Lewis Nature Reserve, as well as result in an unacceptable development of two residential edge of city gardens.  The proposed development is contrary to the objectives of policies DH1 and G6 of the Oxford Local Plan 2036, the National Design Guide and guidance in the NPPF.

2.    The proposed development fails to provide private, convenient or accessible outdoor amenity space, for the enjoyment of the residents of the dwellinghouses.  In the absence of the being able to control either by an agreement or a condition who occupies the units as people who are vulnerable, the proposed development will fail to provide adequate appropriate amenity space, contrary to policy H16 of the Oxford Local Plan 2036.

3.    The proposed development, by reason of its siting and proximity to Wychwood House, will cause a loss of privacy to the occupiers of this property contrary to policy H14 of the Oxford Local Plan 2036.  Further, the intensification of the access and the erection of 9 dwellings in a rear garden location will cause noise and disturbance to the amenities of neighbouring occupiers, harmful to present levels of quiet and tranquillity as well as be harmful to the quiet enjoyment of the CS Lewis Nature Reserve, contrary to policy RE7 of the Oxford Local Plan 2036.

4.    The proposed development fails to meet Nationally Described Space Standards for the minimum provision of internal floorspace, thus creating substandard living accommodation for the future occupiers of the premises, in conflict with policy H15 of the Oxford Local Plan 2036

5.    The proposed development fails to demonstrate through the submission of evidence that the proposal has the right to connect to and discharge to the private sewer in Lewis Close.  On the basis of this, the applicant has failed to demonstrate there is an adequate drainage strategy in place with a viable outfall/discharge point contrary to the requirements of RE4 of the Oxford Local Plan 2036.

6.    The submitted Ecology appraisals are out of date and fail to adequately consider the impact of the development on protected species.  ...  view the full agenda text for item 45.

The Committee noted that application 16/02549/FUL (land adjacent to 4 Wychwood Lane) which was due to be considered at the meeting had been withdrawn by the applicant following publication of the agenda.

Recommendation: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2020 as a true and accurate record.

The Committee resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2020 as a true and accurate record.

Items currently expected to be considered by the committee at future meetings are listed for information. This is not a definitive list and applications may be added or removed at any point. These are not for discussion at this meeting.

The Committee noted the list of applications expected at future meetings.

Future meetings of the Committee are scheduled on Wednesdays at times shown. These will start at 3.00pm while the committee is meeting remotely.

The Committee noted that the next meeting would be held remotely on 3 February 2021 starting at 3.00pm.