Flats plan gets approval despite parking fears (From Oxford Mail)

Flats plan gets approval despite parking fears

12:10pm Thursday 19th May 2011 in News By Chris Buratta

A DERELICT Oxford depot will be turned into flats, despite fears from neighbours about parking problems.

The red brick building in New High Street, Headington, below, will be knocked down and replaced with two two-bedroom flats.

Oxford City Council applied for outline permission to demolish the block.

But the idea of the redevelopment angered neighbours, who fear the new homes will exacerbate on-street parking issues.

Members of the council's north-east area committee gave the project planning permission.

Neighbour Kate Rutherford was one of a number of neighbours who objected to the proposals. She wrote: “No parking has been provided for the flats, which is absolutely ridiculous.

“The area is already overcrowded with cars, both in All Saints Road and in New High Street, we often cannot park our one car in either road.”

It is understood the council will sell the land to developers.

The depot, on the corner of All Saints Road, is one of several redundant buildings the council wants to dispose of.

The sell-offs follow a rev- iew of its property portfolio.

Council planners felt the outline permission for flats should be given the go-ahead.

On the issue of car parking, their report stated: “Car-free development will be considered favourably anywhere in Oxford, provided that there are excellent alternatives to the car, that shops and services are provided nearby, and the car-free status of the development can realistically be enforced by planning conditions or by on-street parking restrictions.”

As the property is within a residents-only parking zone and close to the Headington shops, planners concluded the lack of off-street parking was not an issue.

They said occupants of the new flats would not be eligible for a permit.

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