18/02974/VAR

Greyfriars Court Paradise Square Oxford OX1 1BE

12 December 2018

 Variation of condition 2 (Approved Plans) of planning permission 17/00860/FUL (Demolition of existing building. Erection of a part 3, part 5 and part 6 storey hotel, with landscaping works in Paradise Square.) to allow an increased in building height, addition of secondary means of escape at 5th floor and minor internal and external alterations. |

The granted planning permission 17/00860/FUL makes clear that the building approved at that time would be a definite improvement on the undistinguished building it is to replace and that there will also be highly desirable improvements to the public realm of Paradise Square. What is now sought is  to provide for a small number of Minor Material Variations: notably a small increase in overall height of 470 mm. This will allow for the fifth floor to be provided with a second escape route increasing safety for the occupants of the hotel. This follows a decision by the developers that following the Grenfell fire they will build no more spaces with only one escape route. The increased height would still be below the Carfax datum of 18.2 m. The other changes sought would have little significance to the overall appearance or impact of the new building. OCS sees no reason to object to these proposed minor variations.