We are posting this as we know some of our residents have either expressed concern or have campaigned actively about the permission granted to the University re student accommodation at Roger Dudman Way

Oxford City Council has confirmed its commitment that a Working Group will be set up and an Independent Review will take place regarding the planning application at Roger Dudman Way.

The external independent expert will be appointed by Oxford City Council to advise the Working Group and council officers and to identify any lessons to be learned.

Their report will assess whether the planning considerations were adequately assessed, whether best practice was adopted in consulting residents and stakeholders and whether all the factors that could reasonably be considered by the West Area Planning Committee were reported.

The Working Group will be chaired by Councillor John Goddard, with Councillors Elise Benjamin and Oscar van Nooijen. They will be joined by representation from the Civic Society, Oxford Preservation Trust and the Save Port Meadow Campaign.

A verbal report by Michael Crofton Briggs, Head of City Development, updated members at West Area Planning on Tuesday 9 July and confirmed the appointment of an independent expert.

The independent report will be taken back to West Area Planning Committee Working Party with their results.