PLANS to partially demolish the Clarendon Centre in place of student accommodation have been approved.
Oxford City Council’s planning committee met this evening to analyse the proposals.
LIVE UPDATES: Future of Clarendon Centre to be decided
Plans for the Clarendon outline taking the whole roof off, to turn it back to its ‘former open street character’.
In addition to student accommodation, the Clarendon transformation will see new retail buildings and offices, with a new public square and pedestrian/cycle access through to Frewin Court.
The scheme will also see the creation of a new public open space, including a water feature, public drinking fountain and seating.
Council officer Felicity Byrne outlined how the proposal would impact buildings surrounding the Clarendon as it is at the moment.
She said: “The Crown would experience the biggest change with the building wrapping round it.
“The idea of this development is to take the roof off and take it back to how it was. It would be open 24/7.
“There would be new seating, which we need in the city centre, and a public drinking foundation, which we haven’t had in the city for many years.”
Ms Byrne said there was a concern with the impact on the views of Oxford, but said the economic, social and environmental benefits outweigh any negatives of impacted views.
She said: “One of the key issues with this application is the impact on the historic skyline. There are three key views where it will be felt the most.”
Ms Byrne summarised: “Overall, this is a very exciting and positive development for the city centre.”
Adam Smith from Lothbury Investment Management, a real estate investment manager which oversees the Clarendon, told councillors: “Changes in the last decade have accelerated and this has been felt at the Clarendon.
“The site will be opened up, creating new public spaces.
“This scheme is almost four years in the making. Concerns raised have been fully reviewed before submitting new proposals.
“I hope today will mark the start of a new chapter for the Clarendon Centre.”
READ MORE: Plans to turn Clarendon Centre into student accommodation
Councillor Alex Hollingsworth said: “This is a very major application, one into which a great deal of work has gone.
“There are clearly a couple of harms that have been picked up, but they are minor ones.
“One element of this which is very positive is research and development space.”
Mr Hollingsworth moved to accept the proposals, which Susan Brown, the council’s leader, seconded.
She said: “I think this is a really good example of how planning should be working.
“We’ve identified there’s a massive lack of greenery in the city centre but this will dramatically improve the biodiversity of the city centre.”
The application can be viewed on the city council planning portal using the reference number 21/00110/FUL.
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