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Westgate development From: bob price Date: Feb 26 12:23 UTC Short link
> As Chair of Housing in the late 80s, I should add that the Abbey Place
development was primarily shared ownership ie half buy, half rent, as
the City Council's first step into offering less wealthy people the
chance to buy in the central area. Only the ground floor units were for
people with disabilities and/or the elderly.
Bob Price
All, > > Please find below the Michael's response to last weeks questions: > > Q. Why is it considered necessary to demolish the the purpose built > sheltered housing at Abbey Place? > > A. The Westgate developers came forward with the proposal. The scheme > includes building a multi-storey car park, shops (including shopmobility > and cycle shop) and flats (50% affordable) on the Abbey Place car park, > the location of the Collegeâs Evelode building and site of the Abbey > Place flats. Planning permission has been granted for this development. > The City Council, in considering the scheme as a whole was aware that the > implications of the development would involve the demolition of these > properties. However, it concluded that on balance that there were no > substantive grounds to withhold the grant of permission. > > Q. Why is it proposed to evict tenants such as multiple sclerosis sufferer > Vincent McKeown without making a formal offer of suitable and comparable > housing? > > A. A formal offer of suitable and comparable housing will be made to all > the tenants. Indeed an informal offer has already been made to all tenants > including Vincent KcKeown of a purpose designed and suitably adapted home > at Albion Place. New purpose built flats are currently being constructed > here which will be ready for occupation later this year. > > > Q. The Abbey Place development was only built in 1986, and was > specifically designed for people with physical disabilities and older > residents. In proposing to demolish this building and replace it with a > car park, isnât the City Council now demonstrating that it values the > interests of commerce above the interests of its own most vulnerable > citizens? > > A. It is not the City Council that is proposing to demolish this building. > As explained above it was the Westgate developers that came forward with > the proposal. The City Council as planning authority can only refuse > planning permission where it has reasons that it can substantiate, if > necessary at a planning appeal. In this instance the developer, at its own > expense is replacing the properties in a comparable location with modern > purpose built homes specifically designed for people with physical > disabilities. The new homes at Albion Place will meet the latest building > control energy and sustainability standards and are designed in > consultation with the needs of individual tenant. > > Therefore there were no substantive grounds upon which to refuse planning > permission. And the City Council has ensured that the developer goes to > considerable lengths to provide suitable alternative properties for this > group of people. In so doing the City Council has demonstrated that it > does not put commercial interests above those of vulnerable citizens. > > Shey Cobley > Oxford City Council > Info about Shey Cobley: http://forums.e-democracy.org/contacts/sheycobley > > This topic's messages may be viewed at: > http://forums.e-democracy.org/r/topic/27n3YAF8Sk0YzlvEDg49Yc > ----------------------------------------- > To post, send your message to: <email obscured> > To leave or for daily digest, type "unsubscribe" or "digest on," > in subject line and send to: <email obscured> > > More info about Oxford - Central, South and West Neighbourhood Forum: > http://forums.e-democracy.org/groups/oxford-csw > > E-Democracy.Org rules: http://e-democracy.org/rules > ----------------------------------------- > Technical assistance thanks to our friends at http://OnlineGroups.Net >