PEOPLE have been given the chance to scrutinise three developments planned for North Oxford.

The first North Oxford Area Forum, organised by Oxford City Council, saw D’Overbroecks College, University College and St Edward’s all pitch their expansion schemes in a meeting on Wednesday.

It came after concerns were raised about a series of proposals put forward by schools and colleges in the past year.

Kevin Minns represented Fairfield Residential Home, in Banbury Road, at the meeting, which is working with University College to build a new care home.

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It has also proposed to refurbish the current building to house 29 students and build six houses at the same site to house a further 30 students.

At the meeting a model of the plans was on display for residents.

Mr Minns said: “We were happy to come along, there was a lot of useful feedback and having the model for people to see really helped them to see the full design.

“There are lots of things we need to look at, mostly to do with the effects of the building on our nearest neighbours.”

It was hoped a plan could be formally submitted to city council planners in a matter of weeks, Mr Minns added.

He said: “We are now considering what we will do next. We may take the plans to the Oxford Design Review Panel.”

The panel was established by the city council after the public outcry caused by the Castle Mill student flats, approved by the authority in 2012.

Campaigners criticised the buildings, claiming they are a blight on the view of Oxford’s skyline from Port Meadow.

D’Overbroecks College, which also attended Wednesday’s meeting, told residents it also recently met the design panel.

The college is seeking to build a new sixth form block on the site currently housing Oxford’s former masonic lodge, in Banbury Road. It also wants to build lodgings for students on a site across the road.

Principal Sami Cohen said: “Our meeting with the panel went extremely well.

“It is full of experts who all had really interesting points to make about the plans.

“They made a number of recommendations and we will be taking them into account.

“Our next step will be to meet with city planning officers next week.”

Mr Cohen revealed the school was also set to hold a second public exhibition of the scheme for residents to have their say on the revised plans.

He added: “The idea is we will put in the formal application as soon as possible after that. We still hope to have it built by Christmas 2016.”

At the meeting, St Edward’s, of Woodstock Road, also told residents about its expansion plans for more students and a new academic building.

A feasibility study for a concert hall of 1,000 seats or more is also being carried out.

Bladon Close resident Michael Lewis said he had found the meeting useful, but also wanted to see more discussion of issues relating to works to double-up the railway line through Wolvercote.

The work will enable more services between Oxford and Bicester but residents fear trains passing by at 70mph will cause noise and vibrations.

Mr Lewis said: “I was very interested to hear about all the schemes going on, particularly the plans at St Edward’s School.

“But for me the most important thing at the moment is the railway works and the Northern Gateway proposals.”


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