ABOUT JERICHO - PLANNING
Grantham 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.
Cranham Street used to be a blot on the city
Before Grantham House was built, the site became notoriously derelict, making Cranham Street according to the local press a ‘blot on the city’ – wrecked by local children, and a refuge for rats and for ‘layabouts sleeping off the drink’ who were repeatedly evicted by the police.
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