Oppose the Redevelopment of St Clements Street Car Park

A planning application has been submitted to Oxford City Council for the redevelopment of St Clements Car Park to provide 4 blocks of student accommodation (141 bedrooms) upto 6 Stories in height.

The development will reduce the number of public car parking spaces from 113 to 63 and there no arrangements in place for the provision of a temporary car park during the estimated 12 - 15 month construction period. Businesses and other services in St Clements and Cowley Road, Iffley Road and the lower end of the High Street are totally dependent on the car park given that the only alternative is strictly controlled on-street permit only residential parking. The inability of customers to park within reasonable proximity will seriously undermine the ability of local businesses to survive, which will lead to the potential decline of what is a well established and vibrant area.

The proposals amount to a vast over development of the site. The amenity of adjacent properties would be adversely affected and the outlook towards the River Cherwell and Angel and Greyhound meadow beyond would be diminished. The design and scale of the buildings would have a harmful impact on the St Clements and Iffley Road Conservation Area and the adjacent Grade II listed James Stirling Florey Building and 27 St Clements Street. Trees which positively contribute to the site will be removed to facilitate the development and proposed new planting is entirely inadequate.