AFTER a retired Oxford judge called the closures of some magistrates' courts 'madness', councillors are to decide whether a building - formerly home to Banbury Magistrates Court - should turn into a block of flats.

A planning application submitted to Cherwell District Council seeks permission to extend and convert the building on Warwick Road into 14 two-bedroom and nine one-bedroom flats.

It would have 35 car parking spaces as well as bike and bin stores.

The site is within the Banbury Conservation Area and the magistrate’s court is a locally listed building.

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Because of this, the plans have been amended during the course of the application due to concerns raised by officers on a number of heritage, design and amenity issues.

The proposed extensions will be made of stone to match the existing building, rather than the brick walls and metal roofs which were originally proposed.

This is so that it will be more in keeping with the 'simple palette of materials' on the existing building.

Oxford Mail:

The alterations now proposed to the front and side of the building are 'much less significant' than originally sought as officers say these elements are key to the significance of the building.

The number of flats has also been reduced from 29 to 23.

Banbury Town Council object to the plan on the grounds that it does not provide affordable housing or contribute to off-site infrastructure, particularly sports and education.

Overall, the proposed development will result in some harm to the heritage assets, but it is considered to be ‘less than substantial’.

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Magistrates' courts across the country have closed over the years including Bicester's which closed in 2016.

Retired Oxford Crown Court Judge Peter Ross has warned that the justice system he has left behind is facing a 'tremendous backlog' which he said could not be blamed solely on Covid-19, but budget cuts and the closure of magistrates courts.

He added: “I would like the public to wake up to the situation and start tackling their politicians about it.”

Councillors are to decide whether to approve the application at a planning committee meeting today at 4pm.