Application No. O.06/02 (detailed/Conservation Area)

Erection of first floor extension to existing building to provide three classrooms, ITL room, staffroom and cloakrooms, extension to existing hard play area, creation of new soft play area and landscaping and provision of temporary contractor’s access (amended description), St Aloysius RC First School, 143 Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 7PH

Development and Site (see plan):

St Aloysius RC First School is a flat roofed single storey building located at the junction of Woodstock Road and St Margaret’s Road in Oxford. As part of the Oxford Schools Review, this school will become a primary school. The site is very restricted, and in order to provide additional accommodation for the extra pupils without reducing the playing areas around the school, an extension is proposed at first floor level on the existing flat roofed building. The extension would be hipped roofed and located at the Woodstock Road end of the existing building. Three additional classrooms would be created, along with an IT room and staff room.

The proposal also provides for additional hard play space by extending the existing hard play area to the rear of the school. This would involve the removal of a derelict greenhouse.

Whilst work on this scheme is progressing, temporary classrooms are proposed to be located on the soft play area in the south east corner of the site (these are the subject of a separate application (Application No. O.03/02) to this Committee). Replacement soft play area is to be provided at the northern end of the site abutting Polstead Road. This will replace the current parents’ car park although pedestrian access from Polstead Road will be retained.

A subsequent amendment to the scheme has been the request to have a temporary contractor’s access into the site from Woodstock Road. This would involve the removal of two small trees and a short length of boundary wall. The wall would be re-built when the extension is completed. The amended scheme has been re-advertised and and a second consultation carried out.

The site lies within the North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area.

Relevant Local Plan Policies

Results of Consultations:

Oxford City Council – have yet to comment.

Environment Agency – no comments.

Any other representations received will be reported at the meeting.

Director’s Comments:

It is my view that extending above the existing single storey building is the best option for providing additional permanent accommodation at this school. The site is within the North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area. This part of Woodstock Road in particular has a rich variety of buildings of various heights, materials and design. The existing school building is single storey, brick built with a flat roof of no particular architectural merit. The new first floor extension, using the existing (reinforced) flat roof as its floor, will, by necessity, be a lightweight construction with timber cladding and glazing panels to the wall and hipped roof. The roof will be finished with cedar shingles which should create an attractive

Director’s Comments contd

contrast between the solid brick case and lighter timber clad structure above. The main Woodstock Road elevation of the new extension would be partially hidden behind the row of substantial trees along the Woodstock Road frontage. The whole effect should be an improvement on the flat roofed building currently facing onto the Woodstock Road.

This proposal also involves the creation of additional hard and soft play areas for the school. An area immediately to the rear of the Convent of Notre Dame is proposed to be used for hard play space. This would include the demolition of a dilapidated greenhouse which could become a danger. An adjoining Victorian former wash house would be retained for storage purposes. An area of soft play (to replace that lost by the positioning of a temporary unit in the south east corner of the site) would be created at the northern end of the site in an area currently used for parents parking. The access onto Polstead Road would be retained solely for pedestrian purposes. The school is currently preparing a Travel Plan which would take on board the loss of the parents’ parking area.

Additional boundary planting is proposed to both west and east of the new area of hard and soft play space to help screen the site from residential properties to the west and the Convent to the east. Existing trees, apart from two small trees on the Woodstock Road boundary, would be retained but will require protection during construction works.

The proposed temporary contractor’s access will involve the demolition of a short length of brick boundary wall. This would be replaced when the scheme is completed. The access is proposed at the furthest point of the site away from the Woodstock Road/St Margaret’s Road junction. There are no highway objections to the proposal.

Recommendation:

The Committee are RECOMMENDED, subject to consideration of any objections that may be received by the date of this meeting, to approve the application subject to the following conditions:

1. Detailed compliance;
2. Detailed duration – 5 years;
3. Sample of external materials to be agreed;
4. Landscaping scheme;
5. Implement landscaping;
6. Tree retention and protection during building works;
7. Travel plan;
8. Provision of safe, secure, cycle parking;
9. Boundary wall for contractor’s access to be re-built following completion of extension.

Contact Officer: John Hamilton Tel: Oxford 815584