Blavatnik building approved

On 8 May the Oxford West Area Planning Committee granted planning permission for the new building for the Blavatnik School of Government which will be built on Walton Street next to Freuds cafe. There were a number of objections voiced at the meeting, from the Jericho Community Association and from David Freud. And it was clear that of the public comments on the application the majority opinion had been against. Those who spoke for the building were the Blavatnik School and their Swiss architects. A major concern was the impact of the building on the former St Paul's church, now Freuds, including blocking light to the stained glass windows. Another was that the construction involved destroying a graveyard of people who had died at the Radcliffe Infirmary. But the most contentious issue was that the building, at 22 metres high, will breach the City Council’s guidelines which say that no building within a 1,200 metre radius of Carfax should be higher than 18.2 metres. Much of the meeting was given over considering distant views of the city, though local people were more concerned about the impact of such a massive tall building on the immediate surroundings. A number of people in Jericho did not necessarily object to the design of the building but believed it should not be so high. The architects argued that the height guidelines were there to 'prevent harm' but said that in this case there was no harm. And some councillors believed it would enhance the skyline. One member, however, was concerned about the view from South Parks and noted that this was a remarkable application in that it had even drawn objections from the other side of Oxford. But most councillors were in favour of the proposal and permission was granted by seven votes to two.