Councillor Chapman sent apologies.

Substitutions are shown above.

General

Councillor Uptondeclared that as a member and trustee of the Oxford Preservation Trust she had taken no part in that organisation’s discussions about any of the applications before the Committee. She also stated that she had a one hour a week contract with Christ Church College and as they were part of the applicant team taking part, she would leave the meeting room during this item.

Councillor Rawle expressed that she is the Donnington Ward Councillor, therefore would leave the meeting room during the Donnington Recreation Ground application.

Councillor Coyne declared that she is a resident at Barton Park and is involved in the group looking at road safety issues.

Councillor Clarkson stated that she would leave the meeting room during the last item as she has a personal interest to the application and Councillor Fouweather will chair the meeting from then until the end.

Site address: Sandford Gate, Sandy Lane West, Oxford, Oxfordshire.

Proposal: Demolition of existing office buildings (Use Class E). Erection of 3no. laboratory enabled office buildings (Use Class E), 1 no. building to accommodate car and bicycle parking facilities and mechanical plant and 1no. building to accommodate mechanical plant and amenity space. Provision of new access arrangements, landscaping and external cycle parking.

Reason at Committee: Major development.

RECOMMENDATION

Oxford City Planning Committee is recommended 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 this report and grant planning permission; and subject to:

·       the satisfactory completion of a legal agreement under section.106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations set out in the recommended heads of terms which are set out in this report; and

2.    agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·       finalise the recommended legal agreement under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers as set out in this report, including refining, adding to, amending and/or deleting the obligations detailed in the heads of terms set out in this report (including to dovetail with and where appropriate, reinforce the final conditions and informatives to be attached to the planning permission) as the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·       complete the section 106 legal agreement referred to above and issue the planning permission.

The Committee considered an application (24/01631/FUL) for the demolition of existing office buildings (Use Class E). Erection of 3no. laboratory enabled office buildings (Use Class E), 1 no. building to accommodate car and bicycle parking facilities and mechanical plant and 1no. building to accommodate mechanical plant and amenity space. Provision of new access arrangements, landscaping and external cycle parking.

The Planning Officer gave a presentation and provided the following updates and clarifications:

•         One verbal update noted the travel plan monitoring fee which is set out in the list of planning obligations has been reduced from £13,060 down to £6,530. The Planning Officer stated that this is to cover one framework travel plan and one full travel plan for the whole site rather than three full travel plans for each building. This change came following discussions with the applicants and a further understanding of how the multi-storey car park will be managed.

•         The building which was proposed would include a learning lab located in one of the ground floor buildings, dedicated to tailoring the needs of local school children. The plan would have a breakout space, a lab area and toilets. The plans would be developed in consultation with the River Learning Trust.

•         A single-storey Pavilion Building would provide a flexible space with toilets which would be available for public use, and this would be secured within the section 106. There would be potential to offer space for various events such as community workshops, public meetings, staff collaboration, and informal breakout space. The proposal would deliver a gross internal area of 20,730 square metres. The multistorey car park would be accessed through a partial two-way entry point of Sandy Lane West and would accommodate 299 car parking bays, with four accessible bays provided externally to the rear of the Pavilion building. In addition to this, eight visitor spaces would be provided on site. The multistorey carpark would accommodate 280 cycle parking spaces with 50 spaces located externally throughout the site and 15 electric scooter spaces adjacent to the external cycle parking.

•         The applicant would carry out improvement works and resurface and widen the pedestrian lane across sandy west lane and enhance lighting and widen the underpass where possible.

•         Double yellow lines would be extended along Sandy Lane West to help avoid unauthorised parking and two road humps would be installed to reduce vehicle speeds. In order to reinstate the bus service and enhance the sites sustainability, the applicant would carry out works to bring the bus turnaround area back into use. Works include the removing of existing bollards, curb realignment to allow double decker bus to turn, resurfacing and reinstation of street lighting. Details of works would be secured via a s278 agreement with highway authority.

•         The development is formed of separate buildings which helps to breakup the mass and enables development to feel open rather than defensive. Additionally, the buildings are characterised by horizontal banding and curved corners.

•         The application site lies approximately  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Site address: Cinema, George Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire.

Proposal: Demolition of the existing cinema (use class sui generis) and erection of an aparthotel (use class C1) to include ground floor community use (use class F2). Provision of external landscaping, cycle parking and refuse storage.

Reason at Committee: Major development.

RECOMMENDATION

Oxford City Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.    approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 13 of this report and grant planning permission; and subject to:

·       the satisfactory completion of a legal agreement under section106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations set out in the recommended heads of terms which are set out in this report; and

2.    agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·       finalise the recommended legal agreement under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers as set out in this report, including refining, adding to, amending and/or deleting the obligations detailed in the heads of terms set out in this report (including to dovetail with and where appropriate, reinforce the final conditions and informatives to be attached to the planning permission) as the Head of Planning and Regulatory Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·       complete the section 106 legal agreement referred to above and issue the planning permission.

The Committee considered an application (24/01481/FUL) for the demolition of the existing cinema (use class sui generis) and erection of an aparthotel (use class C1) to include ground floor community use (use class F2). Provision of external landscaping, cycle parking and refuse storage.

The Planning Officer gave a presentation and provided the following updates and clarifications:

•         The Planning Officer noted there was one verbal update. Thames Water removed its requirement to restrict occupation until sewage works has been carried out. This is due to the current capacity of the treatment works which has been considered suitable to accept the development taking into account the additional floor space.

•         The proposed building would have a gross internal area of 6050 square metres. 3060 square metres of this floor area would be given to the community space at ground floor level. The Planning Officer confirmed that the maximum height of the building would be 19.7 metres to the roof level and up to 21m, including mechanical plant screen which would be located centrally on the roof plan.

•         The aparthotel would accommodate 145 rooms with kitchenettes as well as a café, lounge, gym, laundry facilities and a 24-hour reception on the ground floor. External cycle stores for community staff and visitors would be located to the rear of the building fronting Gloucester Green, as well as bin storage. The proposal includes a seating area within the public realm, which extends around the northern and eastern elevations of the proposed buildings.

•         The existing building does not appropriately respond to the site’s location with the city centre’s primary shopping frontages. The proposed ground floor would interact positively with the site’s context, enhancing the public realm. The proposed large full height window would animate the street and would be a significant improvement to the existing building.

•         The entrance to the community space is appropriately located , on the angled corner between George Street and St Georges Place which would be highly visible from the public realm and would best accommodate the level changes across the site. The second entrance would be located along Gloucester Green which is positive as it will promote further use of the space and enhance the public realm, as this elevation is currently blank.

•         Taking the heritage harm into account, it was considered by officers that the proposal would result in high level of less than substantial harm. Additionally, the proposal would also result in a low to moderate level of harm to a number of listed buildings, as set out in the committee report. In accordance with paragraph 206 in NPPF, it is considered that the heritage harm is justified by the provision of tourist accommodation, in the form of the aparthotel. This would encourage tourists and result in increased investment in the city.

•         It is therefore considered that the proposed development would respond appropriately, and it is recommended that Planning Committee approve the application subject to the section 106 legal agreement and finalisation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

Site address: Land North of Bayswater Brook – see Appendix 1 for site plan.

Proposal: Erection of new A40 cycle and pedestrian bridge and associated pedestrian/cycle route connection works, formation of new vehicular access onto Elsfield Road and associated Elsfield Road/Woodeaton Road/Marston Interchange access and highway improvement works, formation of 2 no. new vehicular accesses onto Bayswater Road and associated highway improvement works on Bayswater Road, formation of 2 no. new Public Transport crossing bridges over the Bayswater Brook with associated bus route connection works, including a Public Transport-only access onto the A40, formation of 5 no. pedestrian/cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook and associated pedestrian/cycle route connection works, flood alleviation measures along sections of the Bayswater Brook and landscape and infrastructure works (associated with the proposed residential and commercial development at Land North of Bayswater Brook solely within South Oxfordshire District Council).

Reason at Committee: This is a Major Planning Application.

RECOMMENDATION

The Oxford City Planning Committee is recommended 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 this report and grant planning permission

2.    agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.

Councillor Upton left the meeting during this application, as stated in the declarations of interest.

The Committee considered an application (22/03049/FUL) for the erection of new A40 cycle and pedestrian bridge and associated pedestrian/cycle route connection works, formation of new vehicular access onto Elsfield Road and associated Elsfield Road/Woodeaton Road/Marston Interchange access and highway improvement works, formation of 2 no. new vehicular accesses onto Bayswater Road and associated highway improvement works on Bayswater Road, formation of 2 no. new Public Transport crossing bridges over the Bayswater Brook with associated bus route connection works, including a Public Transport-only access onto the A40, formation of 5 no. pedestrian/cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook and associated pedestrian/cycle route connection works, flood alleviation measures along sections of the Bayswater Brook and landscape and infrastructure works (associated with the proposed residential and commercial development at Land North of Bayswater Brook solely within South Oxfordshire District Council).

The Planning Officer stated that the site lies within the boundaries of the South Oxfordshire District Council and the site was allocated within their plan. The South Oxfordshire District Council had resolved to approve the hybrid application for the development. In parallel to that, an application was submitted for a package of access works to facilitate the development. It was noted that Oxford City Council have one half of the application and South Oxfordshire District Council have the other half of the application for the access works.

The Planning Officer gave a presentation and provided the following updates and clarifications:

•         There were several verbal updates noted. The section of the committee report setting out the Environmental Agency’s (EA) comments in the planning application, paragraph 914 to 915 were incomplete. The Planning Officer clarified that there should have been a third paragraph which stated the EA removed their objection on 10th May 2024, following the submission of a revised flood risk assessment that dealt with concerns of flood risk and biodiversity impact. The EA also recommended a number of conditions which are listed in section 12 of the report. Additionally, since the committee report was prepared, there have been two further representations of residents in Barton objecting to the application for a number of reasons. The reasons being that the development would have an adverse impact, increasing the flood concerns risk for residents at Barton and the application would result in the reversal of direction of the number 8 bus. The Planning Officer noted that the objections made relate primarily to the hybrid planning application for the substantive development. However, the concerns on flooding for this development are addressed in the officers’ report. The final update was to recommend that two conditions be added to the recommendation in section 12, one being the submission of a monitoring plan and the other being the maintenance scheme for the connectivity bridges.

•         The applicant went through a significant period of discussion with the County Council, as well as the South Oxfordshire District Council and officers from this Council to develop  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

Site Address: Donnington Recreation Ground, Freelands Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire – see Appendix 1 for site plan.

Proposal: Removal of existing fencing and formation of footpath and cycle path, installation of staggered, timber bollards, timber kissing gate and associated landscaping works and associated signage. (Amended landscape plans and additional information: Landscape Ecological Management Plan, Construction Environmental Management Plan: Biodiversity). (Amended Plans and Description).

Reason at Committee: Application was originally reported to Committee in October 2023 where Members resolved to grant permission subject to conditions and the completion of a legal agreement but since then changes have been made to the proposed landscaping and biodiversity net gain which Officers consider should be reported back to Committee.

RECOMMENDATION

Oxford City Planning Committee is recommended 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 this report and grant planning permission and subject to:

·       the satisfactory completion of a legal Obligation under section.106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations set out in the recommended heads of terms which are set out in this report; and

2.    agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·       finalise the recommended legal Obligation  under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers as set out in this report, including refining, adding to, amending and/or deleting the obligations detailed in the heads of terms set out in this report (including to dovetail with and where appropriate, reinforce the final conditions and informatives to be attached to the planning permission) as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·       complete the section 106 legal Obligation referred to above and issue the planning permission.

Councillor Rawle left the meeting during this application, as stated in the declarations of interest and did not return.

The Committee considered an application (22/02446/CT3) for the removal of existing fencing and formation of footpath and cycle path, installation of staggered, timber bollards, timber kissing gate and associated landscaping works and associated signage. (Amended landscape plans and additional information: Landscape Ecological Management Plan, Construction Environmental Management Plan: Biodiversity). (Amended Plans and Description).

The Planning Officer gave a presentation and provided the following updates and clarifications:

•         The Planning Officer noted a verbal update. Since the publication of the committee report, there had been six further letters of representation. This included one letter of support and five letters of objections, raising concerns of the loss of the trees, safety risks and reduce biodiversity net gain and flood risk implications. The Planning Officer confirmed that all  these matters have been considered by officers in the committee report.

•         The application was considered by Committee in October 2023 where members resolved to approve the application subject to conditions and finalise section 106. Since then, the applicant made a few amendments and as a result of the landscape changes, the overall biodiversity net gain reduced.

•         The proposal seeks to install a three-metre-wide shared footpath and cycle path that would run across the southern edge of the site, connecting the existing Cavell Road entrance to a new entrance that is proposed along Meadow Lane. By formalising a new path, the proposal seeks to mitigate and remove the existing line that cuts across the field to improve and increase the use for the football club.

•         To the south of Meadow Lane, the proposal seeks a new entrance. To facilitate this access, a number of trees are proposed to be removed; this equates to 4 larger trees and a number of smaller stems. The entrance would feature bollards to reduce the speed of cyclists and the bollards would allow for wheelchairs and pushchairs to utilise the path.

•         There was public concern regarding the loss of trees, however, the Planning Officer clarified that in this section of trees, no category A or B trees, or ancient trees had been removed. The applicant aimed to retain as many trees as possible, only removing those that are necessary to facilitate the development. It was demonstrated that the works could not be achieved without the loss of some trees.

•         The application was accompanied by an updated biodiversity metric that reviews the new proposed landscaping and this demonstrates that the proposal would deliver an increase in biodiversity net gain, therefore the scheme is considered to comply with both local and national planning policy.

•         In conclusion, the proposed scheme is considered acceptable as it promotes and allows for an active sustainable mode of transport throughout the city and improves connectivity. The application would be acceptable and would demonstrate a biodiversity net gain in accordance with planning policy. Therefore, this is recommended for approval, subject to the conditions listed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Site address: 8 Dunstan Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 9BY – see Appendix 1 for site plan.

Proposal: Reconfiguration of internal areas to include the reduction in size of the ground floor entrance lobby, relocation of a door opening into the TV room and refurbishment of the kitchen including floor finishes. Floor to be part excavated for floor build-up. New internal door openings. Insertion of a structural steel beam.

Reason at Committee: The application has been submitted on behalf of a councillor.

RECOMMENDATION

Oxford City Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.    approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 13 of this report and grant planning permission; and

2.    agree to delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·        finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.

Councillor Clarkson left the meeting during this application, as stated in the declarations of interest, and did not return.

Cllr Fouweather stood as Chair for the remainder of the meeting.

The Committee considered an application (24/01469/LBC) for the reconfiguration of internal areas to include the reduction in size of the ground floor entrance lobby, relocation of a door opening into the TV room and refurbishment of the kitchen including floor finishes. Floor to be part excavated for floor build-up. New internal door openings. Insertion of a structural steel beam.

The Planning Officer gave a presentation outlining the details of the location and the proposal. This included site photos and existing and proposed elevations and plans.

All relevant issues have been considered in the officers’ report and the application was recommended for approval, subject to planning conditions.

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

The Oxford City Planning Committee resolved to:

3.       approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 13 of this report and grant planning permission; and

4.       delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

•         finalise the recommended conditions as set out in this report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.

Recommendation: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2024 as a true and accurate record.

The Committee resolved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2024 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 forthcoming applications.

Future meetings of the Committee are scheduled at 6.00pm on:

The Committee noted the dates of future meetings.