ABOUT JERICHO - PLANNING
Multicolour makeover for ‘iconic’ Grantham
Grantham House sold
Posted - December 05, 2011Grantham house has been bought with finance from the Iconic Assets Heritage Acquisition Fund – an Asian-based fund established to acquire real estate with ‘significant historic, iconic or culturally important attributes’. Oxford firm, Riach Architects will be working on the redesign of the building which will have 29 residential units. This could include a new, ‘green’ roof.
Douglas Riach says: “The existing building envelope will be thermally upgraded with the introduction of modern glazing systems and an insulated external render system to over-clad the tired existing brickwork.This brings the opportunity to add colour as per the adjacent Observatory Street and Plantation Road.” The purchase was arranged by property entrepreneur Johnny Sandelson. His intention, for which he will shortly be applying for planning permission, is to “create a modern feature building that will provide vibrancy and vitality.” The Council says that proceeds from the sale of the site will be invested in affordable housing, with Jericho having first refusal.
Where we work?
According to the 2001 Census, in Jericho 28% of those working were self-employed, while 18% worked part time. Around 20% were in higher professional occupations compared with 14% for Oxford. We also tend to work nearby: 72% of people worked within five kilometres of their home; 18% went to work on foot, 13% by car and 6% by bike
The history of the Phoenix?
There has been a cinema here since 1913. Orginally it the 'North Oxford Kinema', since when it has passed through many hands and names, including the Scala, the New Scala, the Studios 1 and 2, Studio X (a club showing soft porn) and finally in 1977 the Phoenix.