New student accommodation will be built for pupils at a north Oxford school despite concern it would bring 120 "bored teenagers" to the neighbourhood.

Applicant The Wychwood School received permission from the city council at a planning meeting last month to introduce new housing for 120 pupils on 4896 sqm land north of Charlbury Road near Summertown.

An officer said estimated vehicle movement to the area would be "low", at around "18", but objectors drew on issues related to transport, among other concerns. at the meeting.

READ MORE: Yacht tragedy daughter 'had place at Oxford University'

A representative of the Linton Road Neighbourhood Association said: "There are no public benefits to erecting these buildings - only harm.

"There is a loss of availability in potential housing space and the site is too small to build three boarding houses."

The comments come as some councillors also raised concerns over the outside road being particularly busy and dangerous.

Illustrative landscape plan.Illustrative landscape plan. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

The neighbourhood association representative also touched on the apparent "lack of amenity space" for pupils such as features like a pool table saying "we must assume the boarders will do nothing besides homework in the evening" and referenced the "negative impact of having 100 bored teenagers in the neighbourhood".

But school headteacher Jane Evans also gave a speech during the meeting in which she said the Wychwood school had been "part of the Oxford community since 1897," and they had "listened intently throughout the planning process".

Ms Evans added: "Change is the only constant in life and the school cannot stand still

"We are member of this community too which is why we’ve crafted this proposal with such care."

Labour councillor and planning committee member Alex Hollingsworth suggested his biggest concerns had related to the outdoor and indoor amenity space but that his fears had been addressed through questions.

Alex Hollingsworth.Alex Hollingsworth. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

He also suggested in relation to transport concerns that the location was unfortunate but not the fault of the applicant.

The comments come as a number of objections had been submitted onto the Oxford City Council planning portal.

Belbroughton Road householder Elizabeth Clifton said: "Proposed access to these three Wychwood Boarding Houses is via the northern end of Charlbury Road, a narrow, winding residential road, heavily used by cyclists on NCN route 51 as well as by pedestrians and children accessing the two adjacent schools and nursery.

"Safety of all will be compromised, especially at the exit from the cycle path onto Charlbury Road at the same point as the exit from the proposed new build."

Wychwood School on Banbury Road. (Image: Wikipedia)

Charlbury Road Householder N. Clarkson added: "Whatever happens there must not be new or more vehicle access at this small cul de sac of Charlbury Road."

One Parsons Place householder Mohammed Alam said in support of the application: "As an employee of Wychwood School and a local resident, as well as the chairman of the Oxford Wellbeing Project, I have witnessed first-hand the profound impact this institution has on our community."

The application was approved by councillors unanimously.

 

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber you will get:      

  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website   
  • Advert-light access       
  • Reader rewards       
  • Full access to our app

About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi