University building ‘is threat to city skyline’

7:00pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Reg Little, Oxford Times Chief Reporter. Call me on 01865 425434

An artist’s impression of how the new Blavatnik building would look from Walton Stree An artist’s impression of how the new Blavatnik building would look from Walton Stree

CONCERNS have been raised over a proposed £30m addition to the Oxford skyline.

With Oxford University facing criticism over the impact of student accommodation blocks on historic views from Port Meadow, questions are now being raised about the proposed five- storey Blavatnik School of Government.

Opponents say the 22-metre-high building in Walton Street exceeds the height limit introduced by the city council to protect Oxford’s famous skyline.

Under the city’s planning policy, no building within a 1,200-metre radius of Carfax Tower should be allowed to exceed 18.2 metres.

But after submitting a planning application for the circular building, the university said the structure should be viewed as “unique”.

The flagship building on part of the former Radcliffe Infirmary site, created thanks to a £75m donation from billionaire Leonard Blavatnik, is designed by celebrated Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron.

But Peter Thompson, chairman of Oxford Civic Society, warned against a repeat of “the hideous” Castle Mill student block, which acquired planning permission.

He said: “We are concerned about the height of the Blavatnik building, particularly the top floors which consist of two drums. The designers have attempted to justify the height by saying that it will contribute to the skyline, but it is not interesting enough to do that – it could just be the top of a block of flats. It is high enough to be visible but mundane in its design.”

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David Freud, owner of Freud Bar next door to the site, said: “We only became aware of the planning application a week ago. Our building looks quite grand in its setting, but it is going to be completely overwhelmed.”

Helen Bunting, spokesman for the Blavatnik School of Government, said: “This is a unique project and we hope that local residents will distinguish between it and other developments. We are confident the city planning authorities will consider the application on its own merits.

“One part of the Blavatnik School of Government building will exceed the height limit by four metres. This part is stepped back from Walton Street so its main impact will be on the centre of the University’s Radcliffe Observatory Quarter site, not on Jericho residents and businesses.

“Where the building is visible we believe it will enhance the skyline. The variation in the building’s height means it will be in keeping with the variability of Oxford’s historic skyline.”

Comments (7)

9:28pm Fri 1 Mar 13

grumpyofwhitecross says...

There is no point in complaining..the University is a law unto itself..Anyone want odds that nothing will change ?
There is no point in complaining..the University is a law unto itself..Anyone want odds that nothing will change ? grumpyofwhitecross

2:16am Sat 2 Mar 13

Myron Blatz says...

It's hilarious - the University being chastised for its building plans, by a City which gave us the Westgate Centre (probably the County's biggest, ugliest 'white elephant') and all those incredibly drab private housing developments where Lucy and Oxford Radiators used to be - you know, the mega-expensive houses and blocks of flats which look like they were thrown-up by a planning committee led by Joe Stalin. Like it or not, without the historic University, Oxford would not have put Inspector Morse and Lewis on the map, nor attracted scores of language schools, trillions of tourists, or even Oxford East's very own MP Andrew Smith - not to mention City Council's Cllr Cook! Nor would we have all those 'dreaming spires' - including the 'tower' monstrosity atop what used to be where Hartford Motors lived, and which was apparently the only way developers could placate City Council Planning, so that the tower was 'in-keeping with the City's historic skyline' - despite being otherwise totally hideous. Oxford is not a 'museum in mothballs' but a multi-cultural living City, with real people, thousands of students, and some of the worst levels of child poverty and deprivation in the Country - which somehow 'overshadows' the height of buildings, and how they might affect the skyline.
It's hilarious - the University being chastised for its building plans, by a City which gave us the Westgate Centre (probably the County's biggest, ugliest 'white elephant') and all those incredibly drab private housing developments where Lucy and Oxford Radiators used to be - you know, the mega-expensive houses and blocks of flats which look like they were thrown-up by a planning committee led by Joe Stalin. Like it or not, without the historic University, Oxford would not have put Inspector Morse and Lewis on the map, nor attracted scores of language schools, trillions of tourists, or even Oxford East's very own MP Andrew Smith - not to mention City Council's Cllr Cook! Nor would we have all those 'dreaming spires' - including the 'tower' monstrosity atop what used to be where Hartford Motors lived, and which was apparently the only way developers could placate City Council Planning, so that the tower was 'in-keeping with the City's historic skyline' - despite being otherwise totally hideous. Oxford is not a 'museum in mothballs' but a multi-cultural living City, with real people, thousands of students, and some of the worst levels of child poverty and deprivation in the Country - which somehow 'overshadows' the height of buildings, and how they might affect the skyline. Myron Blatz

1:27pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Geoff Roberts says...

"...Our building looks quite grand in its setting..." - David Freud

You mean, St. Paul's Church. Yes it does.
"...Our building looks quite grand in its setting..." - David Freud You mean, St. Paul's Church. Yes it does. Geoff Roberts

1:38pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Salwayp says...

Yes. Lets hold back into the history and not allows amazing looking future buildings into the city!

History is important, But in a city a more import thing is moving into the future!
Yes. Lets hold back into the history and not allows amazing looking future buildings into the city! History is important, But in a city a more import thing is moving into the future! Salwayp

10:47am Sun 3 Mar 13

Citizen Sunday says...

Kevin Webster Iffley Fields wrote:
Myron Blatz wrote:
It's hilarious - the University being chastised for its building plans, by a City which gave us the Westgate Centre (probably the County's biggest, ugliest 'white elephant') and all those incredibly drab private housing developments where Lucy and Oxford Radiators used to be - you know, the mega-expensive houses and blocks of flats which look like they were thrown-up by a planning committee led by Joe Stalin. Like it or not, without the historic University, Oxford would not have put Inspector Morse and Lewis on the map, nor attracted scores of language schools, trillions of tourists, or even Oxford East's very own MP Andrew Smith - not to mention City Council's Cllr Cook! Nor would we have all those 'dreaming spires' - including the 'tower' monstrosity atop what used to be where Hartford Motors lived, and which was apparently the only way developers could placate City Council Planning, so that the tower was 'in-keeping with the City's historic skyline' - despite being otherwise totally hideous. Oxford is not a 'museum in mothballs' but a multi-cultural living City, with real people, thousands of students, and some of the worst levels of child poverty and deprivation in the Country - which somehow 'overshadows' the height of buildings, and how they might affect the skyline.
Mr Blatz, these people would have probably campaigned against our only world class skyscraper the incredible Shard at London Bridge, had they lived in London. This new University building looks bright, modern, and completely in keeping with new designs in "real" world class cities around the world.
Hear, hear!
[quote][p][bold]Kevin Webster Iffley Fields[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Myron Blatz[/bold] wrote: It's hilarious - the University being chastised for its building plans, by a City which gave us the Westgate Centre (probably the County's biggest, ugliest 'white elephant') and all those incredibly drab private housing developments where Lucy and Oxford Radiators used to be - you know, the mega-expensive houses and blocks of flats which look like they were thrown-up by a planning committee led by Joe Stalin. Like it or not, without the historic University, Oxford would not have put Inspector Morse and Lewis on the map, nor attracted scores of language schools, trillions of tourists, or even Oxford East's very own MP Andrew Smith - not to mention City Council's Cllr Cook! Nor would we have all those 'dreaming spires' - including the 'tower' monstrosity atop what used to be where Hartford Motors lived, and which was apparently the only way developers could placate City Council Planning, so that the tower was 'in-keeping with the City's historic skyline' - despite being otherwise totally hideous. Oxford is not a 'museum in mothballs' but a multi-cultural living City, with real people, thousands of students, and some of the worst levels of child poverty and deprivation in the Country - which somehow 'overshadows' the height of buildings, and how they might affect the skyline.[/p][/quote]Mr Blatz, these people would have probably campaigned against our only world class skyscraper the incredible Shard at London Bridge, had they lived in London. This new University building looks bright, modern, and completely in keeping with new designs in "real" world class cities around the world.[/p][/quote]Hear, hear! Citizen Sunday

5:20pm Tue 5 Mar 13

David Freud says...

Those of us who oppose this development are not against modern design. In my case that should be clear to anyone who has seen either the architecture of the FREUD cafe in London - it is at 198 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JL for those who are interested - or the products designed and manufactured by Freud Ltd which can be seen at www.freud.eu. To love the new does not require hatred of the old. An open mind can value things which already exist. The FREUD building in Oxford is Listed because it is beautiful. Its setting is integral to its beauty and interest and can be improved or destroyed. If the Blavatnik building is built on the cemetery which adjoins us, its size and proximity will cut out the sunlight which until now has illuminated the wonderful stained glass of the FREUD building and allowed the cafe to function without artificial light in the daytime. The University's own consultants record that the extent to which the Blavatnik building will cut out the light would mean that it should not be allowed if the FREUD building were a private dwelling. We have difficulty understanding why it should makes any difference that those who enjoy the space within the FREUD building do not sleep there.
Those of us who oppose this development are not against modern design. In my case that should be clear to anyone who has seen either the architecture of the FREUD cafe in London - it is at 198 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8JL for those who are interested - or the products designed and manufactured by Freud Ltd which can be seen at www.freud.eu. To love the new does not require hatred of the old. An open mind can value things which already exist. The FREUD building in Oxford is Listed because it is beautiful. Its setting is integral to its beauty and interest and can be improved or destroyed. If the Blavatnik building is built on the cemetery which adjoins us, its size and proximity will cut out the sunlight which until now has illuminated the wonderful stained glass of the FREUD building and allowed the cafe to function without artificial light in the daytime. The University's own consultants record that the extent to which the Blavatnik building will cut out the light would mean that it should not be allowed if the FREUD building were a private dwelling. We have difficulty understanding why it should makes any difference that those who enjoy the space within the FREUD building do not sleep there. David Freud

10:28pm Fri 29 Mar 13

jooly says...

I don't find any of this in the slightest bit hilarious and am very relieved that planning is being scrutinised. The artist's impression of the proposed building is very dishonest - the angle is such that it makes the proposed building look the same height as Freud Cafe, while the planning application shows it will be 6 storeys high. There are very clear guidelines set by Oxford City Council on the maximum height of building to be allowed in Oxford and the Blavatnik building is way over that. Silly and irrelevant to compare Walton Street, Jericho with the Shard in London
I don't find any of this in the slightest bit hilarious and am very relieved that planning is being scrutinised. The artist's impression of the proposed building is very dishonest - the angle is such that it makes the proposed building look the same height as Freud Cafe, while the planning application shows it will be 6 storeys high. There are very clear guidelines set by Oxford City Council on the maximum height of building to be allowed in Oxford and the Blavatnik building is way over that. Silly and irrelevant to compare Walton Street, Jericho with the Shard in London jooly

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