Issue 64 — April, 2008
When will Spring spring?
Developer poised to appeal
Spring Residential has informed the Parochial Church Council that it will be appealing against the refusal of planning permission for the canalside site. The appeal will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate at Bristol, who will set a date for a hearing in Oxford in six months to a year from now, but most likely towards the end of this year. If so, the Inspector’s decision could be expected in Spring 2009.
The Area Committee Meeting which refused the application on December 11 was a noisy affair. The evening started with protests outside the town hall. The ensuing meeting, chaired by Jericho councillor, Colin Cook, was standing-room only and heard strong statements against the proposal from among others, Philip Pullman, John Keyes for the Jericho Community Boatyard, and Charlotte Christie for the Jericho Community Association. Spring had four representatives at the meeting but they chose not to speak.
In all there were nine reasons for refusal. The main objections were: the lack of provision for a new boatyard, since the owners of the land in Yarnton are refusing to guarantee to use it for this purpose; the failure to offer 50% affordable housing, the height and design of the new buildings which were generally considered ugly; and inadequate environmental standards.
There have also been doubts about the capacity of St. Barnabas Church to withstand building work around it since its foundations are made of little more than rubble, and it could suffer from pile-driving or from changes in the water table.
Meanwhile the Community Association has commissioned an architect so that it can apply for outline planning permission for the proposed new Community Centre, though construction is contingent on the overall development going ahead.
