PROPOSALS for a former mental health centre to be turned into a teaching facility and for roof repairs to Oxford University Press’ building are among the latest applications received or decided by Oxford City Council, the planning authority.

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  • University Press roof repairs

The roof of Oxford University Press’ building in Walton Street could be repaired.

The publisher has submitted a planning application to the council to carry out roof repairs to parts of the South West wing of the main quadrangle and the wing tower roof of its building, including replacement of slates, repairs to leadwork and upgrading of thermal insulation.

A heritage assessment submitted as part of the application said: “It is estimated that at best about five to 10 per cent of the slates could be salvaged for reuse again and it is therefore proposed to recover the pitched roof areas in new Welsh slate, to match the existing colouring.

“These pitched roofs were stripped and recovered some 45-50 years ago, using reclaimed original slates. The quality of those slates appears to have been poor, with extensive areas now de laminating.”

The Printing House is Grade II Listed and was the original Clarendon Press building when the site was taken up in 1860, to replace the Clarendon Building in Broad Street.

Oxford University Press came to be known as The Clarendon Press when printing moved from the Sheldonian Theatre to the Clarendon Building in 1713. The name continued to be used when printing moved to its present site in 1830.

 

  • Former clinic could become teaching space

A former mental health clinic in Oxford could be turned into a university building permanently.

Boundary Brook House in Churchill Drive, in Headington, was used as a hospital and as an outpatient clinic until 2017.

Now the University of Oxford has submitted an application to Oxford City Council, the planning authority, to change the use of the building to a teaching facility permanently, after using Boundary Brook House since 2018.

A cover letter submitted as part of the application said: “The building is working well and the applicant is keen to retain both the building and the current use permanently.

“Teaching space is provided on the ground floor with research staff on the first and second floors. No changes to the internal layout of the building are proposed with this new application.

“Boundary Brook House is not a temporary building, it is a permanent element, and the recent and future development at the campus have respected this arrangement.”

The council is expected to make a decision on January 12 next year.

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  • New solar panels

Solar panels are to be installed on the roof of a co-working space in Oxford.

The council approved Urbanoid Workspace’s application for 55 new solar panels to be installed on the roof of its unit in Ferry Hinksey Road.

A planning statement submitted as part of the application said: “The panels will be supported by a structural steel frame which cantilevers over the edge of the flat dormer roof area.

“The extant planning consent is being implemented to avoid reliance on fossil fuel energy: there will be no gas supply or appliances in the completed project.

“The electricity supply will be procured from renewable sources, as was the case for the original property.

“The applicant’s approach in reducing reliance on fossil fuel, in mitigating energy consumption, and these proposals to achieve a more self-reliant renewable electricity supply will result in significantly increased energy sustainability over that for the original property.”

 

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This story was written by Anna Colivicchi, she joined the team this year and covers health stories for the Oxfordshire papers. 

Get in touch with her by emailing: Anna.colivicchi@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @AnnaColivicchi