Grand Designs-style 'Tree House' plan in Oxford sparks anger

The proposal for a bespoke-designed ‘floating’ tree house made out of timber and glass for the land at Hid’s Copse in Cumnor Hill, West Oxford, was debated at a Vale of White Horse District Council planning committee meeting on Wednesday.

The planning officer recommended the committee refuses the plan on a number of grounds including ‘detrimental impact on visual amenities' and potential damage from construction and pressure on protected trees.

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This is despite assurances from the applicant about an eco-friendly development that would not harm the woodland.

Baroness Ruth Deech, who lives on the road, spoke on behalf of a number of community members fighting against the plan.

The exact location of the tree house on the Cumnor Hill woodlands Picture: Western Design Architects

She pointed out that this is the second application for the site and said the proposal, 'heavily opposed' by tree experts, goes against a number of county and national policy frameworks set to protect biodiversity.

The baroness added: “To override these clear criteria would set a damaging precedent for future applications.

“There is a group tree preservation order set in 1999 and a previous application failed in 2012 on tree conservation grounds.

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“The applicant now claims that the woodland will be protected by adopting eco-friendly construction.

“Even if that doubtful proposition was accepted, future occupiers would very soon find living there impossible without removing protected trees due to overshadowing.

“If approved, the development would impoverish the local ecological area.”

Designs for ‘The Tree House’ in Hids Copse Road, Cumnor Hill, Oxford, submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council. Picture: Western Design Architects

Themis Avraamides, one of the people behind the innovative proposal, promised that the house would ‘sit in harmony’ among the trees as it is specifically designed to make it ‘virtually invisible’ from the street.

Mr Avraamides added that the architects were chosen for their experience in designing and building award-winning tree houses.

He commented further: “Not a single tree would be harmed or removed as part of this proposal.

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“In fact, there is a net gain as we will plant more trees in the boundaries also bearing in mind most existing trees are categories C and below.

“We will use well-established techniques to avoid any harm to the trees or their roots during construction.”

However, councillors remained unconvinced, though a number of them hailed the design and plans as ‘fantastic’ and ‘beautiful’.

Designs plans show the view from the tree house Picture: Western Design Architects

Since the furore from Cumnor Hill residents, the application was rejected as per the planning officer’s recommendation.

To find out more about the application visit the Vale planning portal using reference P20/V3322/FUL.