CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 140-room student housing block on Oxford’s St Clement’s car park have been thrown out.

Members of the city council’s west area planning committee last night refused to give planning permission for developer Watkin Jones’s proposals, on the grounds that a reduction in the number of spaces in the car park and plans for a temporary car park off Marston Road during the construction work were unacceptable.

The scheme, for two four-storey blocks of flats, would also have resulted in a reduction in parking spaces from the 112 now available to 80.
 

It took six votes to resolve the issue, after more than an hour of debate.
The motion to refuse was eventually passed by a vote of eight councillors to one.


Opponents from the business community and residents rallied outside Oxford Town Hall before the meeting.

St Clement’s Street resident Diana Hutcheson said: “The car park is only eight metres away from flats three and seven at No 33 and their only windows overlook the car park.

“They have no other light that comes in. These flats would end up looking out on brick walls.

“The replacement parking is miles away and, from the point of view of the traders, they would be badly affected.”

She added that residents were worried about which education establishment’s students would make use of the new housing if it were built.

After being asked to clarify which students might be housed at the site, Roger Smith, from agent’s Savills, said: “We don’t know the answer to that question. The likelihood is that it will be Oxford University students and, I suspect, Brookes students.”


On Tuesday, members of the council’s east area planning committee had approved plans for a temporary car park off Marston Road for use during building work at St Clement’s.


That consent was dependent on the student flats being approved.

Traders had argued that the temporary car park would have deterred shoppers and hit trade in St Clement’s.


Among those who voted against were St Clement’s councillors Bev Clack and Graham Jones and Green leader David Williams.

Only Labour’s executive member for city development, Colin Cook, voted against refusal.

Ms Clack said: “I’m not convinced by what’s been said in the temporary car park proposals and indeed the shuttle bus.

“Until they’re improved and made certain, I don’t think they provide enough protection for local businesses. I’m troubled by the lack of clarity about which students will use the accommodation.”

Mr Jones said: “This is certainly an architectural improvement and I must say I have been very impressed with Watkins Jones’s efforts to meet our previous objections, but I’m afraid for me it isn’t so different from the previous application that it does fully meet our previous objections.”

LONG HAUL

May 2009: Plans for 120 student rooms on stilts above the car park, cutting the number of spaces from 100 to 76, are approved by the council’s executive and the Watkins Jones Group is granted a 150-year lease of the site.

March 2011: Revised plans, saving nine extra parking spaces, are submitted


July 2011: A decision on the plans is deferred to allow more time for consultation with the public.

September 2011: Plans for 141 student bedrooms in three blocks above the car park are rejected.

May 2012: Revised design with 140 rooms and 80 parking spaces unveiled.

August 14, 2012: Plan for a temporary car park off Marston Road during construction is approved.