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Book depository plan rejected

6:14pm Monday 19th November 2007

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The Bodleian Library's plan for a £29m book depository in West Oxford has been rejected.

The world famous library had wanted to build the new facility on the Osney Mead Industrial Estate.

But tonight, Oxford City councillors refused planning permission because of flooding fears and the impact the proposed building would have on views of the city's dreaming spires.

Bodley's librarian Sarah Thomas said the decision was 'the democratic process at work'.

She added: "I think we have a very good design.

"We worked with the Environment Agency, English Heritage and the city, and ultimately a solution will present itself.

"We desperately need more space."

Ms Thomas added it was too early to talk about an appeal at this point or consideration of alternative sites.

James Lamming, vice-president of Oxford University Students Union, said: "Students will be very disappointed with the outcome of tonight's debate.

"We hope to see the proposals for the book depository and for the new Bodleian bear fruit at some stage."

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Abigael Read, Somerville College, Oxford says...
8:35am Tue 20 Nov 07

Thank goodness for that! What a relief. As a student of the university I appreciate the need for a new Bodleian to be built somewhere, but I was devastated at the idea of such a gigantic building being constructed so close to the historic town centre. I much agree with a speaker on Radio 4 yesterday: Oxford is a world heritage site. India would not accept proposals to build a warehouse in the foreground of the Taj Mahal, or Australia proposals to build one next to the Sydney opera house. In the same way, we should not accept one in the middle of Oxford. It is the most beautiful town I have ever encountered. Let's make it a priority to keep it that way.

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joe, oxford says...
10:17am Tue 20 Nov 07

Abigael Read wrote:
Thank goodness for that! What a relief. As a student of the university I appreciate the need for a new Bodleian to be built somewhere, but I was devastated at the idea of such a gigantic building being constructed so close to the historic town centre. I much agree with a speaker on Radio 4 yesterday: Oxford is a world heritage site. India would not accept proposals to build a warehouse in the foreground of the Taj Mahal, or Australia proposals to build one next to the Sydney opera house. In the same way, we should not accept one in the middle of Oxford. It is the most beautiful town I have ever encountered. Let's make it a priority to keep it that way.
world heritage site?? dont make me laugh... with all the wheelie bins lying around and rubbish everywhere its a dump

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lightblue, OX4 says...
10:21am Tue 20 Nov 07

If you can't build a library in the middle of an industrial estate because it will spoil the view (of the pylons?) what's the point of the industrial estate anyway?

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Abigael Read, says...
1:26pm Tue 20 Nov 07

I don't know if the initial reports that I heard were completetly misguided. I am now informed that my aesthetic worries have been shown not to be relevant to building at the proposed sight. So let's get the facts straight. If there are no aesthetic concerns, then I am not opposed to it. Although if it's likely to be flooded, then we should definitely think again.

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Helen, Oxford says...
3:43pm Tue 20 Nov 07

Although if it's likely to be flooded, then we should definitely think again.
Goodness Abigael, have you read anything about the actual plans? The ones that are specifically designed to reduce the risk of flooding in the area? As approved by the Environment Agency? Ring any bells at all? Silly child.

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Noam, Oxford says...
3:50pm Tue 20 Nov 07

Lightblue is right. Osney Mead is a dump. How could anything make it look any worse? Surely a building the same height as the Ox Times press hall would have zero additional visual impact?

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Abigael, says...
6:12pm Tue 20 Nov 07

For your information, Helen, I am not a child, and I am certainly not silly. Do not be so rude. I was simply offering my response to the article on this page. I quote:

'tonight, Oxford City councillors refused planning permission because of flooding fears and the impact the proposed building would have on views of the city's dreaming spires'

If this is a load of rubbish then attack this paper, not me!

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Abigael, says...
6:35pm Tue 20 Nov 07

Actually, since you all seem to know more about the subject matter than I do, can someone please enlighten me on exactly why the proposal was rejected yesterday (given you all say that flooding isn't a risk and aesthetic arguments are weak)? Much appreciated. Thanks. Then maybe I can make more enlightened comments!

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Helen, Oxford says...
9:34am Wed 21 Nov 07

Because they could, and because they wanted to stick a pin in what they perceive as the inflated posh wealthy ego of the university. Little else makes sense.

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lightblue, OX4 says...
11:24am Wed 21 Nov 07

It's the difference between Oxford and Cambridge - Cambridge City Council have given its university carte blanche to become as big as it can. Oxford City Council wishes its university and its students would go away and so everything they can to stop it growing. Guess which will become the most successful in the next 20 years?

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Helen, Oxford says...
12:11pm Wed 21 Nov 07

Oxford City Council wishes its university and its students would go away and so everything they can to stop it growing.
Quite. It's an uncomfortable truth that all of the beautiful buildings they seek to protect exist solely because of the University that they're kicking.

I wonder what Oxford would be if the university didn't exist? I suppose it might still have a car factory, but no students and no tourist trade. It would be very different indeed.

How many people have jobs in the area as a result of the students or the tourists I wonder. Most of us, probably.

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Abigael, says...
4:35pm Wed 21 Nov 07

I do agree Helen: the university is what makes Oxford so popular. Hinder the university from staying among the best in the world and the tourism will vanish in a flash. Yes the buildings are nice, but they're so special because they belong to one of the best universities in the world (the best, in my opinion!). Without the university here, the students parading around in sub-fusc and bikes everywhere, what would Oxford be? OK - I'm transformed - I'm now totally for Bod developments. It's clear that the library IS being sensitive to environmental and aesthetic concerns. This government should be supporting the university, as it is one of this country's real assets. What the heck is the council doing? Appeal people, appeal! (And yes, I've changed my tune, but it is amazing how that can happen once you get past biased press reports and to the facts about the proposal!)

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Helen, Oxford says...
5:40pm Wed 21 Nov 07

It's clear that the library IS being sensitive to environmental and aesthetic concerns. Of course it is. How anyone can suggest that the Bodleian doesn't care about heritage is beyond me.

Incidentally, OUSU did support the proposals, and have expressed their disappointment. You might get in touch with them if you want to find out more.

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