The Willows, former Cricket Ground, Barton Road (2016)
This is one of two benches on the open-space area at “The Willows” in Barton Road. This development of 30 houses by Thomas Homes Ltd is appropriately named, as it is on the former Cricket Ground at Barton Road.
These benches, which are made of powder-coated steel and are fixed on to concrete pads, cost c.£5000 each before installation. The arm-rest and leg on each side are designed as a pair of cricket bats, and the middle support and back-rest represent stumps and bails.
Policy CP14 of the Oxford Local Plan 2001–2016 sought the provision of public art in association with major development such as this one:
- Approved planning application 13/00631/FUL for the erection of 30 residential units on cricket ground: see Condition 4 of decision notice, which stated that no part of the development could be occupied until a scheme of public art had been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority
- Approved planning application 13/00631/CND4 for this work of art
- Oxford Mail, 11 April 2013: “Homes planned for cricket pitch”
