Agenda and minutes
PDF 97 KBVenue: The Ridgeway, The Beacon, Portway, Wantage, OX12 9BY
Contact: Nicola Meurer, Democratic Services Officer
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Chairman's announcements To receive any announcements from the chairman, and general housekeeping matters. Minutes: The chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, outlined the procedure to be followed, and advised on emergency evacuation arrangements.
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Notification of substitutes and apologies for absence To record the attendance of substitute members, if any, who have been authorised to attend in accordance with the provisions of standing order 17(1), with notification having been given to the proper officer before the start of the meeting and to receive apologies for absence. Minutes: Councillors Eric Batts, Roger Cox, Stuart Davenport and Sandy Lovatt had all sent their apologies for absence. Councillors Mike Badcock, Monica Lovatt, Ben Mabbett and Chris Palmer respectively attended as their substitutes. |
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Declarations of pecuniary interests and other declarations To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, and other declarations, in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting. Minutes: Councillor Bob Johnston reported that he was a member of St Peter and Paul Church in North Hinksey but had not discussed the Botley Centre application with the church. |
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Urgent business To receive notification of any matters which the chairman determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent. Minutes: None |
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Statements and petitions from the public on planning applications Any statements and/or petitions from members of the public under standing order 33, relating to planning applications, will be made or presented at the meeting. Minutes: The chairman referred to the list of speakers tabled at the meeting; 18 members of the public had registered to speak. |
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Statements, petitions and questions from the public on other matters Any statements and/or petitions from the public under standing order 32 will be made or presented at the meeting. Minutes: None |
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Materials To consider any materials submitted prior to the meeting of the Committee.
Any such materials will be on display at the meeting. Minutes: None |
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P16/V0246/FUL - Botley Centre, West Way, North Hinksey Demolition and redevelopment of existing shopping centre and adjacent buildings (but excluding Elms Parade) for new retail development (Use Classes A1-A5) at ground floor level, with development above comprising 140 residential units (C3), 123 bedroom hotel (C1) and 261 units of academic residential accommodation for university staff and students (sui generis). New community building (incorporating library) and replacement Baptist church (D1), small flexible office space (B1). Associated car parking and landscaping and altered vehicular accesses from West Way, Westminster Way and Arthray Road. Additional documents:
Minutes: The officer presented the report and addendum on application P16/V0246/FUL for the demolition and redevelopment of the existing shopping centre and adjacent buildings (excluding Elms Parade) for new retail development (Use Classes A1-A5) at ground floor level, with development above comprising 140 residential units (C3), a 123-bedroom hotel (C1), and 261 units of academic residential accommodation for university staff and students (sui generis), a new community building (incorporating library) and replacement Baptist Church (D1), small flexible office space (B1), associated car parking and landscaping, and altered vehicular accesses from West Way, Westminster Way and Arthray Road (as amended by drawings and information accompanying agents letter dated 10 May 2016) at Botley Centre, West Way, North Hinksey.
Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.
A further 11 letters of objection had been received raising matters covered in the officer’s report, together with letters sent directly to the committee members. A letter from the local Member of Parliament and a further letter from West Way Community Concern were appended to the addendum. The officer also reported that Highways England had not raised any objection to this application, and that the applicant had agreed to provide a commuted sum of £2 million to provide affordable housing elsewhere in the district, in lieu of providing affordable housing on the site. An overage clause was also required to capture any significant uplift in sales values or profits from that stated in the viability report.
Councillor Dudley Hoddinott, a local member for the neighbouring Cumnor ward, spoke objecting to the application. His concerns included the following: · The size, bulk, scale and mass of the proposed development were unacceptable · The square would not provide an attractive place to meet · The local facilities would not be improved and there would be much less choice · The proposed development did not satisfy the policies, objectives and requirements of the Local Plan and the Botley Centre Supplementary Planning Document
Councillor Judy Roberts, a local member for the neighbouring Cumnor ward, spoke objecting to the application. Her concerns included the following: · The scale and mass of the proposed development were too large for this site · The six storey building would overshadow neighbouring property and the tall buildings and narrow pedestrian shopping street would act as a wind tunnel · Noise from the A34 would affect residents · Not all car parking spaces were designated and the number of spaces would be inadequate · There would be no environmental improvement and the cycle path was no longer included in the section 106 agreement
Andrew Pritchard, representing North Hinksey Parish Council, welcomed the opportunity to co-ordinate development and re-vitalise the site and thanked the developer for discussing the application with the parish council. He hoped that the parish council’s concerns could be resolved as follows: · The developer should use the charter for growth used in Cambridgeshire that had proved to be an effective way to engage stakeholders in ... view the full minutes text for item 37. |