Sir – Councillor Pressel (Letters, May 17) raises an interesting issue concerning the power given to planning officers in this city in that it was left to them to approve a controversial design, despite Osney being not only in a conservation area but also having a rare Article 4 Direction, which further limits development. Over the years, councillors have usually been content to accept the opinion of officers, rather than make aesthetic judgements themselves. Councillor Pressel states that officers are not keen on pastiche or imitation.

This attitude could be interpreted as personal preference. The result has been that there is no area of the city which has not been blighted by ‘uncompromisingly modern’ buildings both large and small. The historic cities which accept ‘pastiche or imitation’ (terms of abuse in architectural circles) have retained their characters to a far greater extent than Oxford. As Bill Bryson has noted, the city is being ruined.

There would be considerable merit in transferring planning powers over large areas of the city to a body which has expertise in the historic environment, such as English Heritage. However, as this is unlikely ever to happen, I urge councillors to take a more pro-active role in making aesthetic judgements, not leaving it to officers, and refuse to accept applications which do not respect the architectural heritage of the city.

Paul Hornby, Oxford