Planning > City Issues
OPT has a successful track record of partnership working and is currently working on three linked innovative partnership projects with the support of English Heritage and in partnership Oxford City Council.
Measuring Significance Tool Kit This project has been ongoing since 2007 and aims to provide a methodology for measuring and assessing importance and capturing public value in the historic environment. A survey sheet has been developed with guidance notes which forms the Character Appraisal Tool Kit. The proforma has been piloted by OPT members and Area Liaison Groups and has recently been used by local people in assessing the Jericho area of the city as part of the process to designate this suburb a Conservation Area. A final version of the Character Appraisal Tool Kit should appear by the end of 2010
The Heritage Plan will set down and provide a better understanding of what makes up Oxford's heritage. It will draw together the many and various works and studies that exist to make them easily accessible in order to assist with better planning and management of change in Oxford. The project is aimed at a wide audience and wide stakeholder engagement will seek to ensure that the positive benefits that Oxford's heritage brings to all areas of City life such as climate change, health and well being and housing, are recognised.
The Oxford Views Study aims to bring the protection of Oxford's views up to date, improving on the current View Cones policies in the Oxford Local Plan to provide a better tool for assessing management and change. This project has been chosen by English Heritage to follow the London study, Seeing History in the View which is ongoing. Landscape experts, Land Use Consultants, have been appointed to carry out this work, and a Steering Group, drawn from key stakeholders across various interests and landowners in the City and surrounding areas, has recently met to help to shape the project. The current Study will look at the area within the existing ten view Cones. A further study looking at wider views is envisaged as a second part to the Study, for which no funding has currently been identified.
An Historic Context Study of the West End of Oxford has been commissioned by Oxford City Council in partnership with OPT and is being carried out by Oxford Archaeology. This Study will help to highlight the importance of the history and earlier development of this area of the city in order to better inform future change and regeneration in this area. The Study is due for completion in Spring 2011.
Other recent strategic issues affecting the City in which OPT has taken an active role are the recent independent examination into the Oxford Core Strategy which will guide the planning strategy for development in the city until 2026. The Inspector’s report is due for publication in late 2010.
Plans to develop 1,000 new homes west of Barton on city council owned land, safeguarded for development, in Oxford's Local Plan are moving forward and a private development partner is currently being sought by the City Council, who are working in partnership with the Housing Corporation. The land sits outside the ring road and will have a considerable impact on this area so that OPT is concerned to ensure it is developed in the most sensitive way possible allowing the area to integrate with the existing developments in the area and to make as positive a contribution to Oxford as possible.
At St Frideswide Square, Oxfordshire County Council/Transform Oxford's plans to improve the area are welcomed by OPT but we remain concerned to ensure that the wider effects of the proposals on plans for improvements elsewhere in the city are not compromised.
OPT objected to the designs of a Railway Transfer Deck (bridge) between the present station and the car park where a new platform is planned as the design is not in keeping with the surrounding area. Planning permission has been granted, though there is now some doubt over the availability of funding to allow this to go ahead. Chiltern Rail's proposals for a new train to London will mean a further platform being added at the northern end of the station.
