10 & 12 Stephen Road planning application goes to appeal

6.17.00pm GMT Fri 14th Dec 2007

Residents of Stephen Road, Headington, will wish to know that an appeal has been lodged against the City Council's refusal of planning permission for the demolition of 10 & 12 Stephen Road and the erection of 5 3-bed terraced houses, and 2 1-bed flats.

The decision to refuse was taken by city councillors, against the recommendation of the Council's planning officers, at the North East Area Committee for the following reasons:

1. The proposed development by virtue of its bulk and unsympathetic design is considered to be an overdevelopment of the site and out of character with the streetscene in which it is situated which is predominantly characterised by 2 storey semi detached dwellings;

2. Adequate cycle parking is considered to be essential in this development which has reduced car parking provision. The proposed cycle parking is awkwardly sited and unuseable and does not provide the 'minimum' standard as set out in the Local Plan.

3. There is an inadequate level of amenity space provision to the northernmost house, which has a garden of only 6.5 metres length (average).

The appeal has now started with an informal hearing. The planning inspector notes state that:

i) any comments they made at application stage will be sent to me and if [statutory bodies or interested parties] want to make any additional comments, wherever possible, they must submit 3 copies within 6 weeks of the starting date, by 22 January 2008. If comments are submitted after the deadline, the Inspector will not normally look at them and they will be returned.

ii) they may view the documents at [the City Council] offices.

iii) they can get a copy of our booklet 'Guide to taking part in planning appeals' either free of charge from you or through 'publications' on our website: (www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk) and

iv) if they want to receive a copy of the appeal decision they must write to me [Tanya Clinton] asking for one:

The Planning Inspectorate, Room: 3/20, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN.

E: team13.pinsaapep@pins.gsi.gov.uk