Plans for Cranham corners

The former heath centre premises at the top of Cranham Street has been boarded-up since the doctors moved out in July 2012. In December 2015, NHS property services finally sold the property – to Jericho’s largest landlords, Lucys. However, the sale only involves the ground floor of the building and the car park and building behind. Ian Ashcroft of Lucy’s says “It’s important to note that this does not include the residential flats above the old centre. We intend to work in conjunction with the other interested parties including the owners of the flats and we will release more information in due course” The eight flats above, ‘St Paul’s House’, comprise five council properties and three which had been sold as part of the right-to-buy scheme.

Meanwhile, across the road, a plot of land that the health centre had used as a car park, and which is owned by the Council, is in the process of being sold to a developer to build a small block of flats. Back in the 1970s, after the demolition of two small garages, there had been plans to close the top of Cranham Street, so this land was set aside as a car turning circle. The closure never happened so the land became a car park which, after the health centre closed, was leased to local residents – who at times managed to squeeze in six cars. Some residents also tried to buy the land, but they were outbid by a developer, acting through Scott Fraser of Headington, who is thought to have offered something close to £500,000 for the site.

Scott Fraser has now put in a planning application for a three-storey block of flats. This proposal has not proved popular with the neighbours who consider this ‘over-development’. The Jericho Community Association is also concerned about the design, which does not appear as attractive as the adjoining refurbishment of Grantham House and builds right up to the pavement. The plans can be viewed on the council website which you reach by CLICKING HERE and using 16/00470 as the reference number.