Proposal: Redevelopment of existing Church to provide new Church building, community facilities and 21 residential units (10 x 1 bed and 10 x 2 bed flats, and 1 x 4 bed house). (Revised Plans). (Additional information).

Site address: Holy Family Church , 1 Cuddesdon Way, Oxford, OX4 6JH

The East Area Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.    Approve the application, subject to the concurrence of the Secretary of State and subject to the prior completion of an agreement made pursuant to section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations which are referred to in this report and subject also to the required listed building conditions set out in section 12 of this report and delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·         refer the application to the Secretary of State and, subject to him not directing refusal of the application :-

·         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;

·         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 listed building consent) as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·         complete the section 106 legal agreement referred to above and issue the listed building consent: or

2.    Delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to refuse listed building consent should the Secretary of State recommend that the application be refused for such reasons as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.

The Committee considered an application (20/00688/LBC) for the demolition of The Church of the Holy Family in association with erection of replacement Church, 21 residential units, and community facilities.

The Planning Officers gave a joint presentation which addressed the reports for both the listed building consent application and the full planning application.

Reverend Heather Carter (applicant) spoke in support of the application and answered questions from the Committee. Hugo Llewelyn (agent) and Richard Peats (Historic England) were also present and answered questions from the Committee.

In reaching its decision, the Committee considered all the information put before it and noted the officer’s conclusions that, although the demolition of the grade II listed church would result in the total loss of a designated heritage asset, there was a clear and convincing justification for this loss.  This being that the repair or renewal of the roof would be considered unfeasible due to the inability to rule out failures in the original roof design which would lead to longer term future maintenance issues. Furthermore, the replacement of the roof with an alternative structure would cause substantial harm to the listed building, which together with the limitations of the building to meet the functional requirements of the church and its wider community, would result in an unviable heritage asset It was therefore considered that the substantial public benefits associated with the linked planning application would outweigh the substantial harm caused by the loss of the listed building.

After debate and on being proposed, seconded and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application as set out below.

The East Area Planning Committee resolved to:

1.       approve the application, subject to the concurrence of the Secretary of State and subject to the prior completion of an agreement made pursuant to section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other enabling powers to secure the planning obligations which were referred to in the report and subject also to the required listed building conditions set out in section 12 of the report and delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to:

·       refer the application to the Secretary of State and, subject to him not directing refusal of the application:

·       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;

·       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 the report (including to dovetail with and where appropriate, reinforce the final conditions and informatives to be attached to the listed building consent) as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary; and

·       complete the section 106 legal agreement referred to above and issue the listed building consent: or

2.     delegate authority to the Head of Planning Services to refuse listed building consent should the Secretary of State recommend that the application be refused for such reasons as the Head of Planning Services considers reasonably necessary.