Shark

HEADINGTON NEWS ARCHIVE for 2024

New laboratory plans for Old Road campus

A planning application for a major new laboratory on Plot B2 on the Old Road campus was submitted in October 2024:

“Three-storey laboratory building with basement and plant at roof level with associated substation building, cycle storage building, and associated landscaping”:

This is one of the five plots on the campus granted outline planning permission in 2013:

“Demolition of existing buildings on application site. Outline planning application (fixing details of access) for the erection of 48,000sqm of class D1 research floorspace and ancillary facilities on 2 to 5 storeys over 5 building plots as an extension to University of Oxford Old Road Campus. Provision of 459 car parking spaces, cycle parking, hard and soft landscaping and boundary treatment”

Land North of Bayswater Brook development

Detailed background to this development

Oxford City Council unanimously approved the full planning application by Christ Church for the land north of Bayswater Brook at its meeting on 15 October 2024, but was only responding to the access points that enter city council land:

The entire full planning applications including roads and flood defences was approved by South Oxfordshire District Council on 11 November 2024.

This major development across Headington's Green Belt farmland stretching from the Marston flyover to the Bayswater Road is planned by Christ Church with Dorchester Residential Development. Here Christ Church sums up the development and include an illustration of the new cycling and pedestrian bridge that will cross to it from Northway:

The Environment Agency has withdrawn this flooding objection:

There are three relevant planning applications:

(1) Infrastructure only (FULL application)

This was submitted to both Oxford City Council and to South Oxfordshire District Council and includes:
• Cycle/pedestrian bridge over A40
• New vehicular access on to Elsfield Lane
• Two new vehicular accesses on to Bayswater Road
• Two new public transport crossing bridges over the Bayswater Brook
• Five pedestrian/cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook
• Flood alleviation measures

Duplicate full planning applications:

(2) Buildings (OUTLINE & FULL applications)

This was submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council only, and has been approved. It is in two parts:
— Outline planning application for up to 1,450 dwellings, 120 assisted living dwellings, commercial/business/service buildings/health provision, a new primary school, green infrastructure, parking, surface water, and utilities
— Full planning application relating to buildings at Wick Farm, and some new buildings there, etc.

(3) Work to listed buildings on site (FULL application)

This was submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council only and relates to existing listed buildings on the development site:
“Refurbishment works to the Main Barn and three curtilage barns and refurbishment works to the Wick Farm Well House building”

A fourth planning application to relocate the Grade II listed boundary stone dated 1684 because it interfered with the earlier proposed bus route was withdrawn: P23/S1832/LB. Also Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Management announced that they would be launching appeals to the Planning Inspectorate in relation to (1) and (2) above for Oxford City Council's and South Oxfordshire District Council's failure to give notice of a decision. but this did not happen and instead they have submitted heavily revised plans..

Official Bayswater Oxford website
(Christ Church & Dorchester Residential Management)

Chequers pub now a private home

The Chequers pub in Beaumont Road closed on Boxing Day 2023, following the approval on 20 December of a planning application to convert it into a single large private house. Details relating to conditions were approved on 26 March 2024:

Developments on Ruskin College site

The University of West London (UWL) acquired Ruskin College in Dunstan Road in July 2021.

(1) Ruskin Fields

On 16 October 2024 Oxford City Council’s cabinet approved an option agreement for a right of way for the college over council-owned land at Foxwell Drive in Northway if it gets planning permission for the Ruskin Field. The new road would mean that Northway's Tiny Forest that the city council planted on the site in 2021 with a grant from the Ovo Foundation would have to be relocated.

This decision was called in for scrutiny at an extraordinary meeting of the Scrutiny Committee on 18 November 2024:

(2) Plan for two new accommodation blocks

The following planning application submitted by UCL was approved in June 2023:

"Demolition of the existing 24-bed student accommodation building (Bowen Building) and erection of 65-bed student accommodation building and erection of 30-bed student accommodation building with associated landscaping":

This is an updated version of the previous planning approval (which expired in 2021) for two new student accommodation buildings on the site (17/02387/FUL). It results in a net gain of 71 new student rooms.

Condition 6 (CEMP Biodiversity) was approved on 4 October, and so work is now allowed to start: 22/00962/CND3

Major proposal for the Warneford site

The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is planning a major development called “Warneford Park” at the Warneford Hospital site:

  • Construction of a new mental health hospital
  • Construction of a new research facility
  • Construction of a new postgraduate medical college for the University of Oxford and association accommodation
  • Refurbishment and conversion of the current mental health hospital for use as part of the above college.

“Warneford Park” website with full details

Phase 2 of the pre-planning application consultation for Warneford Park started with three drop-in exhibitions in early December 2024:

(The first consultation closed on 30 September 2024.)

The Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust submitted a Scoping Opinion request to Oxford City Council on 22 May 2023. A Scoping Opinion request is NOT a planning application and only the planners were invited to respond. They decided on 2 October 2023 that it constituted EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Development and that an Environmental Statement would be required, particularly relating to the Lye Valley SSSI: see the twelve-page Decision under the Documents tab in the link below.

Full details of the proposed development are in the 142pp document entitled “Warneford Park: Information to Support a Scoping Opinion Request”, which is also under the Documents tab of the above and described as “Background Papers: Scoping report”.

This extract from the spring 2024 edition of the Highfield Residents' Association newsletter gives additional information: the project needs c.£200 million of capital to fund the hospital element of Warneford Park, and it needs to secure £300 million match funding.

In December 2024 the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust submitted a planning application relating to the south wing of the Warneford Hospital to create a proposed Mental Health Research Unit:

Development next to Sandhills goes to appeal

Two separate planning applications for housing and a care home have been now been refused this site, which is alongside the bridle path that runs from Barton through Sandhills to Forest Hill. (Although this is South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) land, the plans are also submitted to Oxford City Council because access to the development is from Delbush and Burdell Avenues in Sandhills.)

Two refused planning applications
BOTH NOW BEING APPEALED (and two more appeals to SODC)
Appeals launched on 21 November 2024

(1) for 121 homes + care home

Both Oxford City Council and South Oxfordshire District Council refused the previous outline planning application submitted for 121 homes and a care home on this site.

(2) for 76 dwellings + care home

Submitted by Carter Jonas on behalf of the Cilldara Group (Headington) Ltd for the land at Bayswater Farm adjacent to Sandhills for up to 76 dwellings and a care home:

Background

This land was allocated for development as part of STRAT13, the strategic development site in South Oxfordshire District Council’s Local Plan 2035 that includes the much larger Christ Church development to the west and on the north side of the Bayswater Brook. .

In mid-February 2021 the Lone Star Group Ltd of Henley-in-Arden (an independent land promoter) announced here on LinkedIn that they were “delighted to announce the acquisition and promotion of land at Bayswater Farm, Oxford. The site will deliver c130 dwellings”. They later stated here that they had acquired seven hectares of “prime Oxford real estate at Bayswater Farm” for a private client, and the proposed number of dwellings had increased from 130 to 150. The Cilldara Group bought the land from the Lone Star Group in February 2021.

Another major Thornhill development approved

On 13 December 2022 planners resolved to approve the application submitted by the Shaviram Group for a major development in Risinghurst subject to the conditions specified in the minutes of that meeting. The section 106 agreement was finalized in September 2024:

The site is behind and to the west of their existing Thornhill Court and Marley House flats at the Thornhill Park development in the former Nielsen's offices. The description of the plans is as follows:

“Demolition of The Cottage building. Partial demolition and alterations to Forest Lodge building. Erection of 402 apartments (Class C3), a 133 bed hotel (Class C1), employment provision in the form of offices, with additional mixed use accommodation to include gym, café and restaurant (all within Class E), public open space, associated landscape, bicycle and car parking and the provision of a new vehicular access onto the A40”.

The 122-bed hotel

Soon after the planning meeting Sandhill Development Ltd (Shavriam Group) put up for sale as a development opportunity the part of their site at Thornhill that relates to the 133-bedroom hotel, with offers to be in by 20 March 2023. Since January 2024 the as yet unbuilt hotel has been marked as under offer:

Election results in 2024

General Election on 4 July 2024

Anneliese Dodds (Labour) held her seat in Oxford East with 19,541 votes, followed by Sushila Dhall (Green, 5,076), Louise Brown (Conservative, 4,739), Theo Jupp (LibDem, 3,437), and David Henwood (Independent Oxford Alliance, 2,381). The voter turnout was only 55.3% (compared with 63% in 2019).

Previous election results for Oxford East can be seen here, but direct comparison is not possible as since the last election the electorate of Oxford East has been reduced by transferring the area to the west of the River Cherwell (including the city centre and the colleges of the University of Oxford) to the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.

Local elections on 2 May 2024

The city council held an election for one seat in each ward. In the Headington & Marston area, the following candidates were elected:

  • Barton & Sandhills: Asima Qayyum (Labour) elected
  • Churchill: Mark Lygo (Labour) re-elected
  • Headington: Mohammed Altaf-Khan (LibDem) re-elected
  • Headington Hill & Northway: Nigel Chapman (Labour) re-elected
  • Lye Valley: Judith Harley (Independent Oxford Alliance) elected
  • Marston: Mary Clarkson (Labour) re-elected
  • Quarry & Risinghurst: Roz Smith (LibDem) re-elected

Full results here

(There were no county council elections this year, as all county councillors were elected to May 2025.)

Download statement of all persons nominated for the city council

Café and sports facilities at Bury Knowle Park

Courtside CIC has improved the sports facilities at Bury Knowle Park and has created a new community café. The opening week commenced on 1 July 2024

Courtside received a grant from the Community Ownership Fund (part of the Government's Levelling Up programme) that was ring-fenced for a proposed multi-activity hub in the sports and recreation corner of the park. The following planning application was approved on 23 November 2023: “Alterations and extensions to existing pavilion to create a new kitchen, café area, storage room and bin store. Alterations to existing tennis court and creation of an all-weather Multi Use Games Area (MUGA). Creation of mini-golf course, 2no. shuffleboard courts and a group exercise space. Installation of 2no. table tennis tables. Provision of cycle storage and new seating areas. Alterations to existing boundary and landscaping to include the removal 1no. hedge and 2no. trees”:

See the findings of the public consultation held by Courtside in October 2022 and subscribe to its mailing list here.

Old Road Campus developments
Institute for Global Health

The following planning application was approved by the Oxford Planning Committee on 8 June 2022 for Plot B1 on the northern boundary of the Old Road campus, with Old Road to the north and Mileway Gardens to the west:

“Construction of 4552 square metres of office, research and teaching space (F.1 Use Class) for the Institute for Global Health. Provision of an outbuilding to provide cycle parking, bin storage and associated sprinkler system with associated hard and soft landscaping works”.

The £32m facility designed by Associated Architects will be built by Morgan Sindall Construction to accommodate 400 staff and 330 researchers.

Poonawalla Vaccines Research Building

A £50m Poonawalla Vaccines Research Building will be built on the Old Road campus and will house over 300 research scientists

The Pandemic Sciences Centre (“a multidisciplinary initiative to create collaborative science-driven solutions to identify, prepare for, and counter pandemic threats”) will share the Poonawalla site.

Churchill Hospital major development

A planning application was submitted in September 2023 for a new Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility at the Churchill Hospital:
“Erection of a modular manufacturing building (Use Class E). Extension to service road. Installation of sprinkler with palisade fencing, electrical transformer, vehicle barriers, bollards and lampposts. Provision of car and cycle parking, loading area, fencing and landscaping”.

These plans have been called in, On 18 March 2024 the University of Oxford submitted 22 revised documents seeking to address the concerns of Natural England, the Friends of Lye Valley, and others, and fourteen revised drawings were added in August 2024, and many more in December 2024..

Seven new operating theatres for the JR

This major planning application by the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was approved by the Oxford Planning Committee on 19 March 2024 and the decision issued on 16 August following a section 106 agreement. It is for “Erection of an extension to provide modular theatre building with link corridor, provision of two external plant buildings, associated infrastructure, landscaping and parking”:

Major development for Stansfeld Park approved

On 11 December 2024 Oxford City Planning Committee approved the Oxford Trust's application for the new Aspen Building at Stansfeld Park in Quarry Road“to accommodate Class E(g) (i and ii) (office and research and development) and F1 uses (education) with associated infrastructure and provision of a replacement car park”:

This city council bulletin stated: “Thames Water has also started placing restrictive conditions on planning applications – including a new R&D building for science and tech start-ups in Stan[s]feld Park, Headington – that would prevent occupation of the development before the sewage treatment works are upgraded". The Thames Water response can be seen under the Documents tab of the application.

Oxford Local Plan 2040

Consultation on the draft Oxford Local Plan 2040 closed on 5 January 2024:

The proposed development sites in Headington include part of the playing fields of Bayards Hill Primary School.

Community activities

See Headington Action's Community Activity Directory

Headington recycling banks removed

Oxford City Council announced that in October 2023 that it would be removing all recycling banks on their land throughout the city. This means that those at the following sites in Headington have gone:

  • Headington Car Park next to Waitrose (including the charity-run banks collecting textiles, books, etc)
  • Wood Farm (Atkyns Road)
  • Barton (Underhill Circus)
  • Northway (Westlands Drive)

Explanation and full list from Oxford City Council

Headington School and Rye St Antony
to merge as “Headington Rye” in 2024

Headington School on the London Road and Rye St Antony RC School on Pullens Lane are to merge in 2024 to become Headington Rye School. The new Headington Rye Prep will be fully co-educational from September 2024 operating from the current Rye site.

Oxford Tube improvements

Changes to the Oxford Tube bus service to London introduced on 23 October 2023 include the following improvements for people in Headington:

  • The frequency has been improved to 10–15 minutes on Mon–Fri and 8–12 minutes on Sat, and up to 20 minutes into the night
  • A new hourly route through Headington calls at High Wycombe after Lewknor, and also avoids Shepherds Bush and stops in Marylebone Street for Baker Street

Those travelling from Headington who want the Shepherd's Bush route should avoid buses that go via High Wycombe, and on coming back from London need to alight at Thornhill if taking the new service to Carterton, Witney & Eynsham, as this goes over the northern bypass after leaving the Thornhill Park & Ride

Land North of Bayswater Brook

Detailed background to this development

A major development is planned by Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Development across the Green Belt farmland stretching from the Marston flyover to the Bayswater Road. Here Christ Church sums up the development and include an illustration of the new cycling and pedestrian bridge that will cross to it from Northway:

The Environment Agency has objected strongly to the plans;

There are three current planning applications. (Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Management announced that they would be launching three appeals to the Planning Inspectorate in relation to (1) and (2) for failure to give notice of a decision but this has not yet happened:)

(1) Infrastructure (full application)
Constantly being revised. Many new documents added in April 2024 and comments on the SODC version of the plans can be made up to 17 May 2024
The first, submitted to both Oxford City Council and to South Oxfordshire District Council, relates to the infrastructure, including:
• Cycle/pedestrian bridge over A40
• New vehicular access on to Elsfield Lane
• Two new vehicular accesses on to Bayswater Road
• Two new public transport crossing bridges over the Bayswater Brook
• Five pedestrian/cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook
• Flood alleviation measures

(2) Buildings (outline application)
The second planning application was submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council only, and is in two parts:
— Outline planning application for up to 1,450 dwellings, 120 assisted living dwellings, commercial/business/service buildings/health provision, a new primary school, green infrastructure, parking, surface water, and utilities
— Full planning application relating to buildings at Wick Farm, and some new buildings there, etc.

(3) Work to listed buildings on the site (full)
The third planning applications submitted only to South Oxfordshire District Council relates to existing listed buildings on the development site:
“Refurbishment works to the Main Barn and three curtilage barns and refurbishment works to the Wick Farm Well House building”

  • Current South Oxfordshire District Council planning application P22/S4550/LB

A fourth planning application to relocate the Grade II listed boundary stone dated 1684 because it interfered with the earlier proposed bus route has been withdrawn: P23/S1832/LB

Official Bayswater Oxford website

 

Shop and businesses changes in 2024
Popham Hair opened in former Angels Hair Salon

Angels Hair Salon at 97 London Road closed in early October 2024, and Popham Hair opened there on 22 October.

Bluefin Quality Fishmonger opened and closed

This fishmonger opened on 13 February 2024 in the former Co-op Travel shop at Unit 1B, Holyoake Hall, but ceased trading ten months later in December.

The premises were advertised to let by Cluttons at £19,000 p.a. and were marked as under offer in September 2023.

The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) closed

The shop and tours at TOAD in Cheney Lane closed on Friday 31 May 2024. Whisky blending continued on the site until the autumn, when the distillery moved out completely.

Audio T closed

The Audio T shop at 19 Old High Street closed on 31 August 2024. It was advertised to rent with Vail Williams at £27,000 p.a. and was vert quickly marked as under offer.

S & J Hair opened

S & J Hair opened in June 2024 at 2b Hollytree House, Windmill Road in the shop formerly occupied by Sinclair's Hairdressing, which closed following the death of Stephen Sinclair on 18 April 2024.

Bliss Hair Salon opened and closed

This unisex hairdresser opened in Adria's former premises at 5 Simon House, Windmill Road in May 2024, but appeared to be closed in October 2024.

Silver Spa Original Thai Massage opened

This opened at 9A Windmill Road in June 2024 in the premises formerly occupied by a foot health practitioner. The whole building that they occupy was offered for sale by Carter Jonas for £750,000 as an investment opportunity. No. 9A was then advertised to let by JRBT Commercial Property at £23,500 per annum.

Babylon: House of Shawarma opened

This café/takeaway opened on 29 February 2024 at 113 London Road (the former Lemon Garden dessert café). It was refurbished as a takeaway in 2023/4, following the approval of a planning application in April 2023 for change of use from Café (Use Class E) to a hot food takeaway (Sui Generis), and for the installation of a condenser unit and an extractor flue to the rear elevation:

The House of Seoul opened

This oriental grocery store with Korean snacks and a juice bar opened on 22 June 2024 in the former Sue Ryder charity shop at 2A Windmill Road.

The shop was advertised to let by Benedicts Consultant Surveyors at a rent of £27,500 p.a. or for sale at a price of £375,000.

Both the ground and first floor were formerly used by Clover's, but a planning application was approved in December 2023 for “Change of use of first floor of this shop from Retail (Use Class A1) to 1 x 2 bed dwelling (Use Class C3). Provision of bin and cycle stores including formation of screening”:

Indian Restaurant opened in Quarry's former Six Bells

The Fusion Kitchen by Aziz opened in the former Six Bells pub at 3 Beaumont Road in Headington Quarry on 16 April 2024.

This award-winning restaurant originally opened in the Cowley Road, then just before Easter 2016 it moved to the Chequers Inn at Quarry (now a private house) . In 2019 it moved on again to Iffley.

At the beginning of 2024 the pub, which closed at the end of 2023, was put up for sale freehold with vacant possession via Savills (offers in the region of £795,000 + VAT). It was marked as under offer in March 2024.

Oxford Orthodontic Centre: upstairs becoming a flat

An application for prior approval for part change of use of first floor of 95 London Road from Commercial, Business and Service (Use Class E) to create a 1 x 2 bed dwellinghouse (Use Class C3).was approved on 7 March 2024:

An earlier application for the two upstairs floors was refused in 2023 (23/01659/EC56).

Headington Fair Trade shop closed

This shop at 104 London Road (occupied by Headington Fair Trade, formerly known as The Windmill, from February 2010) closed at Christmas 2024. It was advertised as available to rent for £28,500 a year from February 2025: Advertisement on LoopNet

Planning Appeals in Headington in 2024
Five appeals allowed in 2024
  • 143 Merewood Avenue, Sandhills
    Change of use of a House of Multiple Occupancy (Use Class C4) to a specialist children's home (Use Class C2). Infilling of carport to create habitable space, including the insertion of a door and window to the south elevation and alterations to the existing rear fenestration. Removal of existing shed and provision of bin and bicycle storage
    Refused application: 23/01014/FUL
    Allowed appeal: APP/G3110/W/24/3338347
  • 72A & 72B Windmill Road (Richard Ford's shop)
    Partial demolition and alterations to existing roof, formation of 1no dormer to rear roofslope and insertion of 2no rooflights to front roofslope in association with loft conversion. Formation of first floor rear extension with canopy and external stairs to the rear. Insertion of 1no window to side elevation, and 1no. window to rear elevation. Alterations to existing fenestration and railings. Installation of air source heat pump
    Refused application: 23/01709/FUL
    Allowed appeal APP/G3110/W/24/3337225
  • 36 Feilden Grove, off Harberton Mead
    Replacement of existing house with a net zero carbon house
    Refused application: 22/01660/FUL
    Allowed Appeal: APP/G3110/W/23/3322988
  • 34 Downside Road, Risinghurst
    Demolition of existing rear extension and garage. Erection of a single-storey side extension and a two-storey rear extension. Insertion of 1no. window to rear elevation
    Refused application: 23/00746/FUL
    Allowed Appeal: APP/G3110/D/23/3330833
  • Acorn House, Stansfeld Park, Quarry Road
    Change of use from dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to Learning and non-residential institutions (Use Class F1). Erection of single storey rear extension. Formation of ramp access and installation of 1no. electric vehicle charging point
    Refused application: 22/02982/FUL
    Allowed Appeal: APP/G3110/W/23/3329980
Seven appeals dismissed in 2024
  • Oxford Guest House, 228 London Road
    Application to certify that the proposed provision of meals to 12 non-residential guests between 12:00 and 22:00 hours (daily) is incidental to the existing hotel use (Use Class C1) [and] is lawful development
    Refused application: 23/00643/CPU
    Pending appeal: APP/G3110/X/23/3325043 (started 2 Oct 2023)
  • The Shark House, 2 New High Street
    Refused application requesting change of use from dwelling house to short-stay accommodation: 23/01859/FUL
    Refused appeal: APP/G3110/C/23/3335859
    Refused linked case: APP/G3110/W/23/3335902
  • 190 Headley Way
    Erection of single-storey rear extension
    Refused application: 24/00030/FUL
    Pending appeal: APP/G3110/D/24/3341399
  • Hotel plan for Headington Co-op, 152 London Road
    Application 23/00272/FUL (refused on appeal)
    Dismissed Appeal: APP/G3110/W/23/3322566
  • 27 Long Close, Slade Park
    Change of use from House in Multiple Occupation (Use Class C4) to a large House in Multiple Occupation (Sui Generis). Provision of bin and cycle stores
    Refused application: 22/01309/FUL
    Dismissed appeal: APP/G3110/X/23/3329471
  • 317 Hollow Way, Headington
    Erection of a part single-, part two-storey front and side extension. Removal of 1no. chimney. Insertion of 1no. window and alteration to 1no. window to rear elevation
    Refused application: 23/01447/FUL
    Dismissed Appeal: APP/G3110/D/23/3332689
  • 4 Stainfield Road, Northway
    Side extension, front porch, etc
    Refused application: 22/02040/FUL
    Dismissed appeal + appeal for costs : APP/G3110/D/23/3317670
Brookes: Headington Hill Hall site

The following developments commenced in 2023 and building work continues into 2024:

(1) Clive Booth Student Village

Phase 1 of this student village in John Garne Way, accessible on foot from Cuckoo Lane, was completed in time for 342 students to move in at the beginning of the academic year in 2024. Eventually there will be c.1,000 rooms

Background to this development

On 12 October 2021 the Oxford Planning Committee refused this revised application by Oxford Brookes University to replace twelve buildings at Clive Booth student village in John Garne Way, but it was called in to the Planning Review Committee by thirteen city councillors (details here), and was approved at its meeting on 11 November 2021:

“Demolition of twelve buildings (including main accommodation Blocks C, F, G, H, J, K, L and M) and erection of twelve buildings to provide student accommodation, with ancillary communal and social facilities and associated administrative building (Class C2). Erection of children's nursery (Class E). Alterations to car parking, installation of cycle parking structures and associated landscaping works, including reorganisation of existing footpaths and cycle ways, drainage features and ancillary development. Installation of a waste compactor unit and alterations to an existing road to enable access”

On 11 December 2021 the following article by Peter Hitchens condemning this decision was published in the Spectator:
“Only a benevolent dictator can save Oxford”
(but note that only two articles can be viewed as a guest)

(2) New Engineering Building

A planning application was approved on 21 June 2022 for an Engineering Building on the site of the ancillary car park next to the Richard Hamilton Building:

(3) New Technology, Design, & Environment building
(on site of Helena Kennedy Building)

The original planning application by Oxford Brookes for the demolition of the existing Helena Kennedy building and the erection of a replacement academic building for the Faculty of Technology, Design, and Environment was approved on 1 August 2018:

The designs were shown at a public exhibition in March 2018:

The plans were delayed, however, as asbestos was found in the ground, and a revised application incorporating a basement was submitted:

(4) Cuckoo Lane footpath

Planning permission was granted to Oxford Brookes University in January 2022 for its amended its planning application relating to the Cuckoo Lane footpath, which includes partial demolition of the boundary wall (which is curtilage listed) to form a new entrance gap, and closing the existing gap.

Chequers pub now a private home

The Chequers pub in Beaumont Road closed on Boxing Day 2023, following the approval on 20 December of a planning application to convert it into a single large private house. Details relating to conditions were approved on 26 March 2024:

New 5G telecommunications masts

So far nine planning applications for 5G telecommunications poles and ancillary 5G equipment in Headington have been approved and five replacement 5G poles allowed, as well as replacement 5G equipment on the roofs of other Headington buildings.

Site of former Quarry Gate pub

The following planning permission for the site of the former Quarry Gate pub at 19 Wharton Road (demolished in 2015) was granted on 29 March 2021: “Erection of 3 x 4-bed dwellinghouses (Use Class C3). Provision of car parking, private amenity space, bin and bike stores”, but the plans were rejected by Building Control on 12 August 2022:

In late 2023 Seville Developments of Oxford sold the site to Kilkenny & Gomm Developments Ltd of Oxford, who submitted the following applications relating to the above approved plan:

  • Variation of condition 2 (Develop in accordance with approved plans), 8 (Contamination 1) and 13 (CTMP) of planning permission 21/00586/FUL to allow alterations the car parking layout as well as internal and external changes to the approved dwellinghouses:
    Variations approved on 22 March 2024: 23/02904/VAR
  • Condition 8: Contamination:
    Details approved on 18 March 2024: 21/00586/CND3
  • Condition 13:  Construction Traffic Management Plan:
    Details approved on 5 March 2024: 21/00586/CND2
  • Details submitted in compliance with condition 3 (Materials - Samples) and 13 (CTMP) of planning permission 23/02904/VAR:
    Details approved on 21 June 2024: 23/02904/CND
  • Non-Material amendment to planning permission 23/02904/VAR to allow various minor alternations including; fenestrations, room layouts and materials:
    Approved plans 23/02904/NMA

Plans submitted to Building Control in March 2024: were withdrawn two months later (22/00606/DOMFP/A).

Details submitted in compliance with conditions 8 (Contamination 1) and 13 (CTMP) of planning permission 21/00586/FUL were refused in January 2024 (21/00586/CND)

Some preliminary levelling took place in May 2024, as the work needed to start before the planning permission granted to Seville Developments expired on 14 June 2024, building got underway in October 2024.

The five applications submitted by the previous owners (Seville Developments)

(1) Their first (full) application was refused on 19 June 2018 on the grounds that it “fails to relate to the strong sense of character of the surrounding area”. It was for “Erection of 1 x 3-bed and 2 x 4-bed dwellinghouses (Use Class C3). Provision of private amenity space, bin and cycle storage and car parking spaces”:

(2) Their second (outline) planning application was approved on 22 May 2020: “Outline application (seeking approval of access, layout and scale) for the erection of 1 x 3-bed dwelling and 2 x 4-bed dwellings”:

(3) The third full application is the approved plan above

(4) Their fourth (full) planning application was approved on 19 October 2021. This was for: “Erection of a 1 x 4 -bed dwelling with garage (Use Class C3) and 4 x 2-bed apartments (Use Class C3). Provision of landscaping and bin and cycle storage”:

(5) The last plan, submitted in September 2023, was withdrawn in January 2024. It was for “Erection of 3 x 4-bed dwellinghouses (Use Class C3). Provision of car parking, private amenity space and bin and cycle stores”:

Bus changes, July 2024

The Oxford Bus Company introduced a new version of the old 280 bus on 1 July 2024:

This to compensate for the fact that All Arriva buses in Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire ceased to run on 27 July 2024.

Ivy Lane flats

Building of these flats commenced in 2023 and continues into 2024.

On 6 November 2019 the East Area Planning Committee approved the following planning applications submitted by A2 Dominion South Ltd for new flats on the Ivy Lane site at the John Radcliffe Hospital::

“Demolition of existing buildings. Phased construction of key worker housing comprising 56 cluster units, 21 x one-bed studio apartments, 48 flats (17 x one-bed, 31 x two-beds), management office and associated works including parking and landscaping”.

There were formerly 408 key-worker bedrooms on the Ivy Lane site, and the new development will provide 468.

a2dominion: Application form for key workers to apply current accommodation at Ivy Lane (not the new-build flats)

Former Crown & Thistle pub, 132 Old Road

This pub closed down on 31 December 2011, and on 30 November 2012 the freehold of the building was purchased from Greene King for £425,000 by developers (S. P. Singh, S. J. Kaur, and G. Kaur).

This building was granted Heritage Asset status on 23 March 2022:

On 10 January 2024 the following “permission in principle” planning application submitted by Medallion (Oxford) Ltd was refused: “Re-development of the former public house for between 1no. and 9no. dwellings (Use Class C3) (All matters of design including scale, demolition and/or conversion and all technical matters reserved for future application)”:

On 23 September 2022 an earlier “permission in principle” application (identical except that it referred to a minimum of seven dwellings) was also refused: “Re-development of the former public house for between 7no. and 9no. dwellings (Use Class C3) (All matters of design including scale, demolition and/or conversion and all technical matters reserved for future application)”
(Amended description)

Separate development on the Crown & Thistle car park

On 26 June 2013 the developers were granted planning permission to build the three four-bedroomed houses that now stand in its large car park to the west:

Headington Co‑op site: Hotel plan refused

Cantay Estates have lost their appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. On 29 January 2024 Government Planning Inspector Jonathan Bore dismissed the appeal (which was on the grounds that the city council had taken too long to determine the application). He simultaneously refused the original planning application, as the application had already been discussed by the city's Planning Committee in July 2023, and this draft minute says that it would have been refused if an appeal had not been lodged for non-determination.

For reasons for the dismissal, follow the appeal decision link here:

Barton Park development

A major new planning application was approved on 10 August 2022, relating to Phase 2 and the whole of Phase 4, which includes the commercial buildings:

Work started in 2015, and the current situation is as follows:

  • Phase 1: Hill has completed the primary school and all of its 237 homes (“Mosaics”)
  • Phase 3: Redrow expects to complete the building of its 207 homes in 2005 (“The Steeples”)
  • Phases 2 & 4: Countryside Housebuilding West was preparing to start on the final largest phase comprising 441 homes (“Beckley Place”) plus the retail space at the end of 2022, but work came to a halt. Countryside was subsequently combined with the Vistry Group and this final part of the Barton Park development is now expected to be completed in 2027.

For full details about the whole development, please see the separate page: Barton Park development

Withdrawn application for supported housing

A2Dominion withdrew their planning application for “Change of use from Student Accommodation (Sui Generis) to Supported Temporary Housing (Sui Generis)” at Champneys Court at 88 Windmill Road and Edna Rose Court at 90 Windmill Road (one each side of Mattock Close). The 49 student rooms there are currently occupied by Oxford Brookes students. The plan was for No. 88 to remain as it is with 23 units, but changes will be made at No. 90 to incorporate two key-worker rooms on the ground floor which will reduce the number of study bedrooms to 12.

Regeneration of Headington Centre

Headington Action and the Headington Neighbourhood Forum, supported by Oxford City Council, are preparing the Headington Centre Improvement Plan. They have employed the urban design practice AR Urbanism (with the support of Wedderburn Transport Planning) to identify ideas and prepare a plan to implement the vision.