Post in Dorset House

Strategic Development Control Committee approved the Dorset House application
in principle yesterday.
The Committee was concerned about the impact of the south westerly block on the
nearest existing block within Latimer Grange.  That is why an 'in principle'
decision was agreed.  The developer will be asked to go away and re-design the
SW block to reduce its 'seen height' from Latimer Grange and deal with proposed
windows that overlook Latimer Grange.
Three additional conditions were added to those already in the officer's
report.  They were:  1) about occupancy - only by students in FT education of a
least one year duration with a local educational institution in the city; 2)
reinforcement of no-car model policy required by Brookes etc. on students
living in this development; 3) the developer is required to prepare a
management plan about. inter alia, no. of wardens, management of potential
nuisance to neighbours and to hold a meeting with residents, local community,
staff and residents of McMaster House and staff at St. Luke's prior to
finalising and getting agreement to the management plan from the Council.
There was also agreement to a Grampian condition for off-site works intended to
help McMaster House and St. Lukes put in measures to stop rogue parking at the
developers expense.  This is a bit of a belt-and-braces condition to stop
Dorset House students who might smuggle a car into Oxford but also reflecting a
concern in SDCC and speakers about parents etc. coming to see or pick up
offspring and parking illegally when they cannot park on Dorset House site.
The draft s.106 agreement was also amended to seek monies for facilities
(library spendiing is mentioned) should e spent locally.  Also the monies
identified for improvements to cycling was added to to include other traffic
management measures with intention of further speed reduction measures in
Highfield.
On latter point, Transport Decision Ctee of County Council also met yesterday
and agreed to the latest scheme for Highfield that has been consulted on
recently.  Despite intercessions from residents and myself that the scheme
should be expanded to put in further pinch points etc. this plea was not
accepted by Rodney Rose. I have just written to him making further suggestions
for improvements to that scheme or alternative ways of implementing it with
resident involvement / self help on the lines of implementation of Beechcroft
Road traffic speed reduction measures.
Roy Darke