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HEADINGTON NEWS ARCHIVE for 2019

Planning appeals in 2019

Eleven planning appeals relating to properties in Headington have so far been decided in 2019. Four were allowed, and seven dismissed.

The decision relating to 4 Lime Walk was very significant: it undermined the city council's HP4 policy, which required developers of sites capable of accommodating 4–9 units to make an affordable housing contribution of 15% of gross development value. This is likely to lead to more small blocks of flats replacing houses in Headington.

(1) 29 Old High Street

DISMISSED: Martin Young's appeal against refusal “to certify that the proposed subdivision of existing house to form 2x 2-bed flats (Use Class C3) and erection of 3no. dwellings to create a 2x 2-bed flat and 1x 1-bed flat (Use Class C3) is lawful development” (17/02576/CPU)

(2) 33 Perrin Street

ALLOWED: Appeal against refusal of “Application to certify that the proposed demolition of garden shed and erection of a rear garden outbuilding is lawful development” (18/00991/CPU)

(3) 18 Osler Road

ALLOWED: Appeal against refusal of “Demolition of existing dwelling. Erection of a one and a half storey building to provide 2 x 2-bed dwellings (Use Class C3). Provision of private amenity space, and bin and cycle store” (8/00850/FUL)

(4) Heathfield House, Pullens Lane

DISMISSED: Appeal by Rye St Antony School against refusal of “Fell 2no. Corsican Pines in Headington Hill Conservation Area” (18/02230/TPO)

(5) 14 Burdell Avenue, Sandhills

DISMISSED: Appeal against refusal of “Erection of a single-storey rear extension and two-storey side and rear extension” (18/01023/FUL)

(6) 147 Headley Way

DISMISSED: Appeal against refusal of “Change of use of dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a House of Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4) (Retrospective)” (18/01192/FUL)

(7) 28 Sandfield Road

DISMISSED: Appeal against “Erection of 2 x 3-bed semi-detached dwellings (Use Class C3). Provision of private amenity space, car parking and bin and cycle storage” (19/00001/REFUSE)

(8) 1 Aldebarton Drive

DISMISSED: Appeal against refusal of “Erection of 1x2-bed dwellinghouse (Use Class C3)” (19/00013/REFUSE)

(9) 20 Stainfield Road

ALLOWED with conditions: Appeal against refusal of “Demolition of existing single story extension to south elevation. Erection of two storey side extension and single storey rear extension. Removal of 1no door to insert 1no. window to west elevation. Insertion of 1no window to west elevation. Insertion of 1no. window to south elevation. Insertion of 1no. window to west elevation” (18/02802/FUL)

(10) 4 Lime Walk

ALLOWED (planning inspectorate website says “Dismissed”, but this only refers to the appeal by the developers for costs: the appeal itself was allowed): “Demolition of former MOT facility (Use Class B2). Erection of three-storey building to create 3 x 1-bed flats and 2 x 2-bed flats (Use Class C3) . Erection of a single-storey building to create 1 x 2-bed flat (Use Class C3). Provision of private amenity space, bin and cycle storage, alterations to landscaping, and formation of 1no. disabled parking space” (17/01480/FUL)

(11) 4 Woodlands Road

DISMISSED: Appeal by Pendragon Homes against “Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of 1 x 4 bed dwelling (Use Class C3). Provision of private amenity space, car parking, bin, cycle stores and associated landscaping” (19/00219/FUL)

Brookes: Plans for student village refused
Clive Booth Student Village

In October 2018 Oxford Brookes University submitted a full planning application to gain 500 extra bed spaces by demolishing Blocks C, F, G, H, J, K, L, and M of Clive Booth Student Village and erecting 1,077 student bedrooms with associated communal and social facilities. This application was refused by the East Area Planning Committee on 5 June 2019:

Replacement of Helena Kennedy Building

The planning application by Oxford Brookes for the demolition of the existing Helena Kennedy building and the erection of replacement academic building for the Faculty of Technology, Design, and Environment was approved on 1 August 2018, and work is now underway:

The designs were shown at a public exhibition in March 2018:

29 Old High Street


29 Old High Street

Another refused
planning application

Martin Young's planning application submitted on 22 March 2019 was refused on 12 September 2019. This related to work done in 1978 “to certify that the demolition of the front and rear entrances is lawful development”:

Earlier appeal dismissed

Martin Young's appeal against the city council's refusal (17/02576/CPU) “to certify that the proposed subdivision of existing house to form 2x 2-bed flats (Use Class C3) and erection of 3no. dwellings to create a 2x 2-bed flat and 1x 1-bed flat (Use Class C3) is lawful development” was dismissed on 8 February 2019:

Refused Appeal APP/G3110/X/17/3191929

Expansion of JR Emergency Department

The extension to the Emergency Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital was approved unanimously by the East Area Planning Committee on 7 November 2018, and worked started in December 2018 with the reduction of the size of the nearby roundabout.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust submitted a planning application in July 2018 for “The expansion of the Emergency Department of the John Radcliffe Hospital through to the provision of a two storey extension to A and E unit and refurbishment of existing space to provide, resuscitation bays, [paediatric] resuscitation bays, enhanced resuscitation room and isolation room. The provision over ancillary works such as external plant and other associated landscape works including revised land layout and dedicated ambulance parking”:

Other 2019 planning applications
Flats above 2A, 2B, and 2C Windmill Road

A planning application was approved on 28 June 2019 for the top of Hollytree House in Windmill Road, namely the area above 2A (Sue Ryder shop), 2B (Salon Scandinavia) and 2C (Leaders). It is for “Erection of a second floor extension on existing flat roof to create 2 x 2-bed and 1 x 1-bed dwellings (Use Class C3) to include 2no. balconies to the rear and 1no. balcony to the front. Provision of bin store to rear and cycle storage to ground floor lobby area.”.

An earlier application for an extension on this flat roof validated on 28 November 2019 was refused on 23 January 2019, principally on the grounds of harm to the streetscape, lack of outdoor amenity space, and inadequate bin and bicycle storage:

Beauty/massage parlour at 291 & 293 London Road

Two planning applications were approved:

Ruskin College

In April 2018 the East Area Planning Committee granted Ruskin College planning permission for two big applications submitted in September 2017:

(1) Main Headington site: “(i) Erection of 65 bed student accommodation building on four storeys. (ii) Erection of 30 bed student accommodation building on two and three storeys. Demolition of Bowen Building”:

(2) Stoke House on the other side of Stoke Place: “Erection of 12 study bedroom annex on two floors”:

“Botnar 3” plans

Preliminary work took place on the Botnar 3 site in 2018.

Plans submitted by Nuffield Orthopaedic Limited for a new development at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre were approved by the East Area Planning Committee in January 2017. They are for “Demolition of temporary office building. Erection of freestanding two-storey research building (Botnar 3) with glazed footbridge link to existing Botnar Research Centre building. Provision of 4 disabled car parking spaces and covered cycle store for 200 bicycles”.

This building will be connected to the present Botnar Research Centre on the other side of the access road by a bridge).

Three plans relating to this application have been approved:

  • Erection of new electrical substation: 16/02686/FUL
  • Formation of replacement car park for eight vehicles for a temporary period: 16/02688/FUL

 

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Shop/business changes in Headington in 2019
New Shops and businesses
  • Monsoon Oxford Indian restaurant has opened at the Chequers, following the Aziz's move to Iffley
  • New Ground Coffee (formerly a warehouse)
    This shop opened on 16 September 2019 at The Workshop behind Adria in Windmill Road. It is a social enterprise supporting coffee farmers abroad and ex-offenders in the UK
  • Il Botanico (formerly Strutt)
    This flower shop with a cafe opened at 9 Windmill Road on 4 October 2019. This shop had been vacant since Strutt closed at Christmas 2018.
  • Rio's Piri Piri Restaurant (formerly Dragon Express)
    This opened on 7 November 2019 at 81A London Road.
  • ABC Restaurant (formerly part of Mount Pleasant Hotel)
    This opened on 11 October 2019 on the ground floor of the Mount Pleasant Hotel at 76 London Road. It appears that the hotel upstairs will stay open.
  • Oxford Wills & Probate/English Rose Kitchens
    This opened at 10 Windmill Road in January 2019 after Choice Tiles moved in with Leopard Press at 12 Windmill Road next door.
  • Anytime Fitness (formerly Abacus College)
    This new gym opened on 30 September 2019 in the former Abacus College premises on the two floors above Caffè Nero at Victory House at 116–120 London Road (on the corner of Windmill Road)
  • Youngman's Barber opened in the former Vente Hair at 2 The Parade, Windmill Road on 9 December 2019
Shops that closed in 2019
  • The Garden
    This shop at 79 London Road closed on 11 October 2019.
  • Buongiorno e Buonasera
    This café operating in a retail shop at 92 London Road closed in July 2019.
  • Exciting Game
    This escape room above Mojo's at 123 London Road (which opened in December 2013) closed in the summer of 2019. A planning application (19/02214/FUL) for change of use to a sui generis massage parlour has been approved
  • Sun of a Beach tanning salon
    This salon at 65 London Road )which opened in June 2008) closed in July 2019.
  • Lloyds Bank
    This bank at 85–87 London Road closed on 16 September 2019.
  • Dragon Express
    This Chinese restaurant closed in June 2019 following a grim hygiene rating in February.
  • Vente
    This hair salon at 2 The Parade Windmill Road closed on 9 February 2019.
  • Yummy
    This café at 148 London Road closed in December 2019.
Other changes
  • Finders Keepers crossed the London Road
    Hampton's estate agent at 122 London Road closed in May 2019, and Finders Keepers crossed the London Road and opened there on 1 July 2019. (Both businesses are owned by the Countrywide Property Services Group.)
  • Six Bells: “returning to its roots”
    The former landlady Kim has returned to this pub at 3 Beaumont Road in Quarry according to its Facebook page, which announced on 2 October 2019 that it would be returning to its roots
The Black Boy

The Black Boy closed suddenly in mid-June 2019, and reopened under new management on 27 November 2019.

The Black Boy Oxford Ltd was incorporated as a private limited company on 19 August 2019 according to Companies House, and the Directors are Simon and Samantha Stonehouse of Lamb Catering. The pub is still owned by Everards.

First World War remembrances: 1919–1920

Three men listed on the First World War memorials of Headington died in 1919 (and one in 1920)

Poppy Private William Irving (46), a maltster labourer who lived with his wife and two children in New High Street, died in Egypt on 11 January 1919, and buried at the Suez War Memorial Cemetery.

Poppy Private George Skey (21), who lived at Pitts Road, died of wounds in Oxford on 20 February 2019 and buried in the churchyard of Headington Quarry Methodist Church.

Poppy Private Henry Trafford (38), a bricklayer's labourer who lived with his parents at Vine Cottage in Quarry High Street, died in Headington on 19 March 1919 from heart complications as a result of malaria contracted in Salonika and was buried in Holy Trinity churchyard.

Poppy Private Arthur Ernest Taylor (22), who lived with his parents at Cooper's Hill in Quarry, died in Headington in July 1920.

Biographies of all 120 who died

Cuckoo Lane: new path

On 29 March 2019 Oxford Direct Services started the construction of a new path on the eroded stretch of Cuckoo Lane between Pullens Lane and Franklin Road. The tarmac is now dressed with buff gravel.

If in future it is considered appropriate to pursue an upgrade to a formal cycle route, a legal process would need to be followed, with associated public consultation.

New controlled parking zones (CPZs) in 2019
The funding of new parking zones in Oxford is a joint venture by the City and County Councils

 

New CPZs at Wood Farm (WF) and Headington Quarry (HQ) were introduced in 2019, bringing the total number of CPZs in Headington to nine.

Oxfordshire County Council has also consulted on the possibility of three more CPZs in the Headington area:

The seven older CPZs in Headington are Girdlestone Road (GR), Headington Central (HE), Headington North-east (HN), Headington West (HA and (HB), Lye Valley (LV), Northway (NW), and The Lakes (LK). They are operated by the county council.

Holy Trinity Church extension

A planning application submitted in August 2019 for an extension to the north side of Holy Trinity Church in Quarry comprising a kitchen, crèche room, and toilet for the disabled was withdrawn in October 2019:

The Consistory Court of the Oxford Diocese judged in June 2018 that the extension to Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry should go ahead:

On 7 September 2016 the East Area Planning Committee approved the planning application by Holy Trinity Church for “Erection of single-storey extension to north elevation”:

The church withdrew an earlier planning application submitted in February 2015 so that pre-application discussions could be held with the planning officer.

New research building at JR Hospital

Building work started in April 2018 on a new neuroscience research facility at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

The new building is intended to provide purpose-built facilities for the Centre for the Prevention of Stroke and Dementia (CPSD), as well as providing additional research and desk space for the Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB). Both of these organisations are component units of the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (part of the University’s Medical Sciences Division). When the development is complete, it will create the UK’s largest dedicated centre for stroke research.

Members of the University and the design team held two consultation events at Osler House on 28 and 29 April 2017 and construction began in 2018.

New 885-room student village for Brookes

A new 885-room student village for Oxford Brookes University opened on the former BT site at James Wolfe Road off Hollow Way in the autumn of 2019.

Planning permission was granted by the East Area Planning Committee in December 2017 for the following application by Unite Students for the site (originally part of Cowley Barracks):
“Demolition of existing buildings. Erection of new student accommodation comprising of 885 student rooms (of which 46 would be fully accessible), communal areas and amenity provision, associated cafe and shop, laundrettes, plant room and electricity substation, new vehicular and pedestrian access to James Wolfe Road and closure of existing, cycle parking, landscaping and new enclosures. Use of student accommodation outside term time by cultural and academic visitors and by conference and summer school delegates”.

Unite Students announced a 25-year partnership with Brookes University for the use of this block. This is the third Brookes student block run by them (the others being Beech House and Dorset House on the London Road).