Planning round-up: Two city centre pubs set for refurbishment

The plans can be viewed, and commented on, on Oxford City Council’s planning portal.

The Mitre: Gusto Restaurants have applied for listed building consent to carry out internal and external works at the historic town centre pub at 18 High Street.

Lincoln College closed The Mitre, pictured, in 2019 so that a multi-million pound scheme to provide new student accommodation could take place.

Regulars thought the pub – one of the city’s oldest – would reopen once work on the accommodation was complete in 2021 but it has never reopened.

Dave Richardson, a spokesman for the Oxford branch of real ale group CAMRA, has described the building in High Street as ‘an eyesore’.

Proposed works include ground and first floor alterations, refurbishment of WCs, new floor coverings, internal redecoration works, alterations to modern building fabric to open up the kitchen, new mechanical and electrical services and external redecoration works.

Planning reference 22/01037/LBC DEL

Royal Oak: Mitchells and Butlers Retail has applied for planning permission and listed building consent to refurbish the Grade II-listed pub on Woodstock Road.

External works would include the formation of an awning to the north east elevation, replacement of the existing wall with planter including repairs to associated paving to northeast elevation, provision of additional customer seating on the pavement to the front elevation.

Repaint existing masonry and painted woodwork and external redecoration and repair. Refurbishment of the existing metal gates and associated landscaping.

Internal refurbishment would include replacement of fixtures and fittings, replacement fixed booth seating, installation of internal screens and demolition of internal walls in rear extension for installation of walk in freezer.

Planning references 22/01067/FUL DEL and 22/01068/LBC DEL

Magdalen College: The Oxford University college wants to repair stonework to the principal doorway and to replace damaged or missing areas and mortar repairs at St Johns Quad, High Street.

Planning reference 22/01079/LBC DEL

Town Hall flagpole:  Plans have been submitted to Oxford City Council to improve the Town Hall’s flagpole.

The proposals would see new stainless-steel fixtures and fittings installed on the Town Hall roof in St Aldate’s to improve use of the flagpole.

A new halyard and rope mechanism would be fitted.

Planning reference 22/01093/LBC DEL

East Oxford Community Centre: Plans have been submitted to Oxford City Council, by the council, to build affordable homes in East Oxford.

The £5.4m redevelopment project would see the redevelopment of two sites, the first would be the much-loved East Oxford Community Centre on Princes Street and the second the East Oxford Games Hall site on Collins Street.

The council is seeking variation of conditions relating to planning permission 20/00994/CT3 for the partial demolition, refurbishment and extension to the community centre and erection of 12 residential dwellings formed of seven one-bedroom and five two-bedroom apartments.

The plans for Collins Street would see the demolition of the existing East Oxford Games Hall and the redevelopment of an apartment block housing 14 shared ownership flats.

The council is seeking alterations to conditions relating to planning permission 20/01298/CT3.

Turf Tavern: The historic pub at 7 Bath Place has applied to display nine non-illuminated signs, one hand painted illuminated wall sign and one lantern (amended description).

Correspondence from Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society says it has concerns stemming “from the past year of applications and work done to these buildings without permission”.

It said: “We would ask the council to ensure that appropriate materials are used and that any inappropriate materials are removed if they are found or have been found to have harmed or be harming the historic fabric.”

Planning reference 22/00970/LBC DEL