John Radcliffe Hospital car park extension plan withrdawn

Staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital (JRH) have been parking their cars on a mound at the site of a demolished greenhouse, according to a planning application that sought to formalise the area as a car park extension amid a loss of 136 staff spaces.

A proposal said: "Planning permission is sought for a proposed car park, to extend the existing car park t on the land adjacent to Ivy Lane.

"The area has been used informally by members of JRH staff for car parking since 2024, as the area provides additional capacity for 16 car parking spaces since the demolition of the former gardeners compound."

A planning statement explains: "The proposed development will provide a clear benefit to hospital operations by providing additional car parking for staff who are unable to use means of public transport to get to and from their place of work.

"In turn, the use of what is otherwise under-utilised and redundant space within the JRH campus, for staff car parking, alleviates pressure from other parts of the JRH campus that might be better suited to providing built form to accommodate new/expanded hospital buildings."

The plans described the increase as "modest" with "minimal impact on the surrounding residential and hospital uses".

This follows a significant reduction in staff parking, which the trust has made different attempts to remedy, including a trial where it purchased 200 spaces at the Thornhill Park and Ride, around two miles away from the hospital.

The loss of spaces is due to the development of a new 24,740 sq ft surgical hub on what was a staff car park.

The hospital currently has 1,543 staff spaces and 580 for visitors.

The hospital trust's website warns: "Parking space is limited and there is no on-street parking nearby.

"Please allow plenty of time to find a space."

It adds: "You may wish to consider the Park & Ride services rather than bringing your vehicle to the hospital site."

A withdrawal notice from Oxford City Council's director of planning and regulation, David Butler, dated September 9 said: "Further to our recent communication I confirm that the application described above has now been treated as withdrawn."

The parking situation has been subject to a recent political row, and a petition calling for a multi-storey has garnered more than 750 signatures in under a week amid concern about access to the hospital.

Independent Oxford Alliance leader, city and county councillor David Henwood, is calling for a multi-storey car park, saying "patients should not have to worry about whether they can find a parking space when they need to get to hospital".

City councillor for Headington, Christopher Smowton (Lib Dem), said: "Adding more parking will mean adding more traffic to local roads, which are already overloaded at peak times."