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 in the report and the section 106 to secure the biodiversity net gain.

Carri Unwin, Tim Foster and Lucian Dunlop spoke in favour of the application.

Dominic Woodfield spoke against the application.

The Committee asked questions about the details of the application which were responded to by officers, the applicant and agent.

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:

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.       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.