19/01821/FUL

159-161 Cowley Road Oxford OX4 1UT

27 August 2019

Reconfiguration of existing ground floor and part first floor retail unit (Tesco store to remain in situ) with extensions and alterations to existing building to provide 137 units of purpose-built, managed student accommodation with associated management suite and communal facilities at upper levels.

We welcome the intensification of use of this site but have difficulty in assessing the over-shadowing of adjacent properties by the effective doubling in height (to the ridge) of the existing development of the proposed main building; we would appreciate more consideration be given to this effect, particularly in relation to the domestic-scale properties to the east of Chapel Street. We also note that although reference is made to policies of the emerging Local Plan, and to the need for accommodation for the two universities, there appears to be no evidence of any agreement with these institutions or commitment to restricting residence to students of them, and we query possible adverse effects on them through this non-compliance with the emerging Local Plan. We also note that only sketchy details are provided of the proposed bicycle storage facility, and query the capacity, practicality and modus operandi of the apparent three-level bike parking, not only in relation to residents’ storage of bicycles, but also to that of their visitors’ bikes. Likewise, provision for and management of waste and re-cycling storage facilities is inadequately described. We would urge resolution of these issues before consent is granted.