H42 applications

We get asked questions about H42 planning applications. Householder Prior Approval applications (H42) can only be refused where representations have been received from neighbours sharing a boundary with the application site and the Council considers there to be significant harm on the amenity of any adjoining premises.

We have asked the City Council’s planning department for more information and here is its response.

There are three potential outcomes for H42s. Firstly, prior approval not required which is for cases where there are no objections from neighbours. In these cases we don’t assess the development at all other than to check that it meets the parameters of permitted development. If they don’t meet the requirements of permitted development we normally point this out and return the applications (which you can see accounts for a few in the stats below). The great majority of H42s are ‘prior approval not required’. Where there are objections we assess the development and its impact on neighbouring amenity,  we do refuse some of these and of course it depends on the size of the extensions, orientation of the plot and the relationship with neighbouring windows. These decisions are ‘prior approval required and granted’ and ‘prior approval required and refused’.

2015 – Total of 141 applications:

Prior approval not required – 104

Prior approval required and granted – 22

Prior approval required and refused – 4

Withdrawn/returned – 14

 

2016 – Total of 115 applications:

Prior approval not required – 72

Prior approval required and granted – 13

Prior approval required and refused – 9

Withdrawn/returned – 21

 

2017 (so far) – Total of 91 applications:

Prior approval not required – 52

Prior approval required and granted – 5

Prior approval required and refused – 4

Withdrawn/returned/not yet determined – 30

Response to consultation: B4495 Windmill Road (Oxford) Proposed 20mph Speed Limit

Here are our comments in respect of the proposal to introduce a 20MPH speed limit in B4495 Windmill Road, Headington which we have sent to the County Council. Please note that this consultation is entirely separate from works in Windmill Road and surrounding streets associated with the Access to Headington project.

We have discussed this issue with residents in the affected area on doorsteps, at street surgeries and at public meetings. There is broad support in the area for the introduction of a 20 MPH limit throughout the whole of Windmill Road to minimise risk of road accidents and facilitate better and safer amenity for residents. We know that Windmill Road Residents’ Action Group and the governors at Windmill Primary School support this proposal.

A significant number of those residents favouring the 20 MPH limit have indicated to us that they would also like to see more robust speed limit enforcement. We are discussing these concerns with the Thames Valley Police Neighbourhood Team who have offered to make available speed indication devices for community speed watch operations. Various police speeding operations have taken place in the area over the recent past and a number of speeding tickets were issued.

We support the proposal to introduce a 20 MPH limit along the whole length of Windmill Road.

Cllrs Roz Smith, Altaf-Khan and Ruth Wilkinson

 

Latest decisions on planning applications in Headington

17/01277/FUL PERMITTED

Erection of single storey rear extension. Erection of single storey extension to porch and insertion of 2no. rooflights to east elevation. Alterations to doors and windows on north and south elevations.

20 And 22 Kennett Road 

17/01242/FUL PERMITTED

Erection of a two storey office building (Use Class B1)

Land Between 7 And 9 All Saints Road

Linfield Ltd

17/01279/FUL PERMITTED

Affecting a Conservation Area

Insertion of 2 rooflights to roofslope on south elevation.

Flat 14 Emden House Barton Lane

17/01370/CPU PERMITTED

Application to certify that the proposed formation of 1no rooflight to side roofslope and 1no. rooflight to rear roofslope and roofspace to be used as a habitable room is lawful development.

104 Staunton Road Oxford

 

Adopt a piece of Oxford’s history!

Oxford residents are being invited to adopt a piece of Oxford’s history to help fund the £2.8m redevelopment of the Museum of Oxford.

People will be able to adopt 60 objects from the Museum of Oxford’s collection, ranging from a Saxon arrowhead to a Morris Minor badge.

Adopters will get an adoption certificate, a digital image of the object, their name in the museum’s online gallery and an invite to the new museum’s opening in 2020.

You can adopt an object for yourself or as a gift, with adoptions starting at £25.

Objects available for adoption included:

  • A bone ice skate from the Saxon period
  • Lewis Carroll’spocket watch
  • A pavement made of animal knuckle bones
  • A 400-year-old tennis ball
  • Rainsley model of a St Giles attraction

All money raised through the adopt an object scheme will go towards the development of the Museum of Oxford. If all 60 objects are adopted, it will raise £5,000.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Museum Service, which owns many of the objects, has kindly allowed them to be adopted.

The £2.8m project to transform the Museum of Oxford, called Oxford’s Hidden Histories, will tell the story of Oxford, its people and its communities. It has been dubbed the “people’s museum”.

The City Council hopes to raise £1.6m through a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and has set aside a further £315,000 for the project. It is hoped that the remaining funds will be raised through private donations.

The development trust, which will raise funds for the project, has been granted charity status by the Charities Commission. This allows the project to receive gift aid, and to apply to more trusts and foundations for funds.

The hope is to start building work in 2018 and open the new Museum of Oxford in 2020.

To find out more about the Museum of Oxford redevelopment project – please visit www.oxfordhiddenhistories.org

Click here for the link to the objects up for adoption

Wick Farm

Just to confirm the latest re a potential development of the Wick Farm site as we are getting lots of questions. That area falls outside the jurisdiction of the Oxford City Local Planning Authority.

Proposals were put forward to South Oxfordshire by landowners Wick Farming Ltd and Christ Church for housing on land next to Barton Park. Part of the proposals included a potential hospital park and ride for NHS staff at the Headington sites. South Oxfordshire did not include the sites as potential development sites in their Second Preferred Options. (They are Green Belt sites).

Thames Valley Police Open Day on Saturday 5 August

Thames Valley Police hosts the eleventh force Open Day on Saturday 5 August. The event is being held at its Training Centre in Sulhamstead, near Reading (RG7 4DX) and will be open between 10am and 4pm.

With over 40 exhibitors attending, there is something for everyone. This year the Open Day promises to be even bigger and better than before. Here are just some of the highlights in the jammed packed programme:

• Become a detective for the day and solve the crime
• Arena displays showcasing the specialist dog, horse and public order teams
• See the force helicopter up close and meet some of the pilots
• Listen to expert talks about tactical armed policing, the dangers of sexting and how we are combatting organised crime
• Children’s fancy dress – come dressed in police themed costumes
• Name a police puppy competition
• Sample some mouth-watering delights in the Fun Food Kitchen
• Visit the on-site museum to learn about some of our most notorious cases.

For the first time, visitors will be able to become a detective for the day. Working with our Forensic Investigation Unit, you can solve various clues to reveal how Mr Money Bags met his unfortunate demise. Children are also encouraged to come dressed in police themed costume, with a parade at midday and a fabulous prize up for grabs.

The theme this year is Children and Young People and there will be a dedicated Kids Zone featuring our Cadets and Mini Police recruits. We are also supporting SAFE, a charity that helps people aged between 8 and eighteen who have been affected by crime within Thames Valley.

Limited parking is available and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Dogs are not permitted (except for assistance dogs) and must not be left in vehicles.

The Open Day will close at 4pm with the last entry at 3.30pm.

Looks like fun!

Disruption in London over the weekend of 29 and 30 July

This weekend, Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July, there will be significant impact to travel as a result of the weekend of Prudential RideLondon cycling events. Certain roads and river crossings in east, central and southwest London and Surrey will be closed to traffic.
Roads

There will be extensive road closures on and around the routes; roads will be closed from early morning and will re-open when it is safe to do so. Pedestrian access to properties will not be affected. A number of bridges in London and Surrey will be closed at times over the weekend. Road users are advised to avoid areas near the event route wherever possible.
Public transport

Most of the network will be open with services running as normal, but please check before you travel as some essential upgrade works are taking place. While we will try to maintain a good service, many buses will be on diversion or will stop short of their destination, and some may be affected by traffic displaced by road closures.

For more information about the event please see https://www.prudentialridelondon.co.uk/about/faqs/  and the Transport for London website

 

 

Up and coming events in Oxford

 

  • Friday 21 to Sunday 23 July, Dreaming Spires Steam Rally, Cutteslowe Park, 12 to 5 pm. Annual event for Rally for Model Engineering Club members to come together.www.cosme.org.uk
  • Saturday 22 July, Orinoco fund raising Indian dinner 7pm. North Oxford Association, Diamond Place OX2 7DF. Adults £20, concessions £12. To book a place contact Orinoco on 01865 761113, email mail@orinoco.org
  • Saturday 22 July, Run the Oxford Parks by Thames Valley Orienteering Club, Headington Hill Park, 9am to 2pm. Part of a series of Saturday orienteering events based in and around Oxford organised by Thames Valley Orienteering Club. www.tvoc.org.uk
  • Saturday 22 July, Oxford Rathayatra, Broad Street, 12 to 4.30pm. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ biggest street festival with stage performances, chanting, free vegetarian food, exhibits, spiritual literature, meditation and a short procession around the city centre.
  • Saturday 22 July, FilmUunder the Stars, Hinksey Park, 9.20 to 11pm. Outdoor screening of a family film. www.filmoxford.org
  • Monday 24 July to Monday 28 August, World Vision Charity – Journey of Hope, Bonn Square, 9am to 7pm every day. Journey of Hope is an immersive experience telling the story of eight year old Ayie from rural Sierra Leone, giving people the opportunity to sponsor a World Vision child. www.worldvision.uk
  • Thursday 27 July, The Leys Play and Activity Day, Fry’s Hill, 11am to 3pm. Each year the Oxfordshire Play Association organises a series of play and activity days across the county in line with the ethos of National Playday, the celebration of the Childs Right to Play. www.oxonplay.org.uk
  • Saturday 29 July, Film Under the Stars, Sunnymead Park, 9.20am to 11 pm. Outdoor screening of a family film. www.filmoxford.org
  • Sunday 30 July, The People’s Fair, Florence Park, 11am to 5pm. Celebration of the diverse communities in Oxford with a variety of cultural stalls and food.
  • Tuesday 1 August, Meet Paw Patrol with the Oxford Tube, Broad Street, 10am to 5.30pm. The Oxford Tube is promoting their recently launched ‘Kids Go Free’ tickets.www.stagecoachbus.com
  • Tuesday 1 to Thursday 3 August, Rose Hill Play Ranger Sessions, Rose Hill Rec (behind the Community Centre) 10 am to 2 pm. Free play sessions organised by the Oxfordshire Play Association. www.oxonplay.org.uk

Response from OUH NHS Foundation Trust re Marston Medical Centre plans

We referred the concerns about parking pressure arising from the relocation of Marston Medical Centre that you raised at the June Ward Focus Meeting to the Trust, and we have received the following response from Peter Knight, Executive Director.

 

Marston Medical Centre

We have been keen to support our primary care colleagues in finding a new location for a much needed local GP practice, and so have worked with them to adapt accommodation at Arthur Sanctuary House for their use.

The Trust is very well aware of the pressures on parking on our sites, as you can imagine, but one of the key factors in getting our support for this application was the fact that there was not parking at the previous location, so there would be no expectation from patients for parking to be provided at the new location. From the practice’s perspective, the site offers very good public transport links which obviate the need for parking. There is provision for disabled parking immediately outside the building, but no other arrangements for onsite parking have been made with the practice.

Plans for our hospital sites

The Trust is working on a masterplan for all of our hospital sites with our University and healthcare partners, using experts AECOM. We are also working with planners in the City and other district councils. We will share plans at the appropriate stage of development with local councillors and local residents. We have not yet reached that level of detail.