Site address:                   Site Of Millway Close, Oxford, OX2 8BJ 

Proposal:                        Erection of 4 x 1 bed flats (Use Class C3) to first and second floor infills between existing block gable ends. Provision of bike storage. Retaining all car parking spaces, garages and refuse stores.                 

Recommendation:

The West Area 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 11 of the 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 the report including such refinements, amendments, additions and/or deletions as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.

The Committee considered an application (18/02644/FUL) for planning permission for the erection of 4 x 1 bed flats (Use Class C3) to first and second floor infills between existing block gable ends; the provision of bike storage; and retaining all car parking spaces, garages and refuse stores.

The application had been called into committee at the request of Councillors Goddard, Gotch, Harris, Garden and Roz Smith due to concerns relating to the impact on existing residents and parking issues.

The application was previously considered by the West Area Planning Committee in November 2019, where a resolution to defer determination of the application was made to enable the correct notices to be served on the leaseholders at Millway Close and the correct certificate submitted. A request was also made to seek the comments of Thames Valley Police and the Fire Service, with a further suggestion that the proposed location of the cycle parking be amended.

The Planning Officer presented the report and gave the following verbal updates:

·       Evidence had been provided to demonstrate that all correct the notices had now been served on the leaseholders of the flats. 

·       Amended plans had been submitted showing amendments to the position of the proposed cycle parking.

·       The Police and Fire Service had been consulted and their comments were set out in full in Section 8 of the report. Overall no objections are raised.

·       Comments had been received on behalf of Millway Close Leaseholders in response to the amended cycle parking proposals. In summary the comments state the view that the revised number of cycle parking spaces is considered to be sufficient, however the unanimously preferred option would be to site the cycle parking in the location of the former bin store rather than the intended locations.

·       3 additional public comments had been received objecting on the following grounds:

-        The location of the cycle parking spaces

-        No affordable housing provision

-        The loss of amenity areas owing to the location of the cycle parking 

-        Concern about the dimensions of the access spaces between the flats

-        Security of the bike and bin stores

-        The design of the windows not matching the existing style 

-        Natural lights to the rear facing internal spaces of the flats

The Planning Officer recommended an amendment to the wording of Condition 4, (on cycle parking) to require the provision of a cycle parking plan prior to occupation without the reference to 116 spaces.   

Natasha Robinson (Millway Close Leaseholders) spoke against the application and read a statement from Nicholas Loft-Simpson (local resident). 

James Gillies, the agent representing the applicant, spoke in favour of the application.

The Committee noted that the objections and concerns about security and safety would be addressed through Condition 17 which would require the applicant to obtain Secured by Design accreditation for the development. The Committee agreed to include a further condition for the provision of lighting in the access passages.

The Committee also sought assurances in relation to specific concerns raised by the public speakers about the presence of asbestos and the need for residents to vacate the properties during the construction phase. Mr Gillies, the agent, confirmed that there would be no planned requirement for the residents to vacate their properties during the construction phase and that there would was no identified need for the construction contractors to access the roof void or areas known to contain asbestos.

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered all the information put before it.

After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application, subject to the amendment to Condition 4 detailed above and the addition of a new condition relating to the provision of lighting in the access passages.

The West Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.     approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required 17 planning conditions set out in section 11 of the report and subject to the amendment to Condition 4 detailed above and the addition of a new condition relating to the provision of lighting in the access passages; and grant planning permission.

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.