Save Bartlemas Conservation Area
In This Section
Update January 2010
New Student Accommodation fails to protect and enhance the Conservation Area – Residents’ amenity will be seriously affected
There is still time to send comments to Oxford City Council before the application goes before committee (probably in April).
Photo of Bartlemas by Henry Taunt
Thank you for your support last year in signing the petition opposing the proposal by Oriel College to build student accommodation units inside the Bartlemas Conservation Area. DRARA’s evidence was critical to the Planning Inspector making an informed decision and dismissing the proposal at the Planning Appeal last summer.
Oriel College have come back with a revised proposal which will still adversely affect the amenity of local residents and will harm, rather than preserve and enhance, the Conservation Area and precious listed buildings within it.
Oriel have made some changes and modifications in light of the Planning Appeal decision but the main building block remains largely unchanged.
You can view the scheme and submit comments online via the OCC Planning Website – http://uniformpublicaccess.oxford.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/tdc_home.aspx
Or send comments by email to planning@oxford.gov.uk or write/visit the Planning Department at Ramsey House, 10 St Ebbes Street, Oxford,OX1 1PT
APPLICATION REFERENCE NUMBER IS: 09/02658/FUL
The original 1st February deadline for the submission of comments or letters on the proposal has now been extended and comments can still be received before the application goes to committee for a decision (probably in April).
DRARA has studied the plans and believes that the proposal should be rejected by the City Council because:
- Public and private views in and out of the Bartlemas Conservation Areas will be seriously affected and views of the precious listed buildings blocked from houses along Southfield Road which adjoin the development
- The three storey main block will be overbearing to the houses and gardens on lower Southfield Road and on Bartlemas Farmhouse. The western end of the southern pavilion is too high and close to the gardens and houses of lower Southfield Road.
- The accommodation units will result in a loss of privacy for both the houses on lower Southfield Road and on Bartlemas Farmhouse
- The lighting up of the building at night will result in general nuisance and disturbance and will damage the sense of seclusion and isolation of the Conservation Area
- General noise, disturbance and nuisance will occur through having an extra 31 students on the site
- There will be the extra burden to the residents of Evelyn Court, Southfield Road and the Conservation Area of additional traffic, car parking and taxis as well as the general noise of students coming and going at all hours of the day and night which will also spill over into the surrounding streets
- The amenity and enjoyment of the views of the listed buildings and character and atmosphere of the Conservation Area as a whole by the many people who visit the chapel for events or just to enjoy the Conservation Area itself will be harmed by this proposal.
- The important sense of seclusion and isolation of the conservation area and the green buffer on its western edge which protects the listed buildings of the rural and medieval hamlet will be undermined.
Thank you for your support in helping DRARA protect and enhance the local environment.
