Considerable expansion (From The Oxford Times)

Considerable expansion

6:50am Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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Sir – You report (June 18) that Brookes University has submitted new plans for the redevelopment of its Gipsy Lane site which reduce the height of the main building. This modification does not go far enough.

The building is still too large and far too close to the private housing at Headington Hill. More importantly, these proposals are unacceptable in terms of their impact on the wider community.

We recognise that Brookes brings many benefits to the city, but believe that it has been allowed to expand in the past with no attempt made to strike a balance between its own interests and those of the wider Oxford community.

This has led to changes in the character of large areas of the city due to the growth in numbers of students living in shared, private housing. Large concentrations in a neighbourhood reduce the number of permanent residents who are essential to the development and maintenance of a strong community. Shops that provide for the day-to-day needs of a permanent population are replaced by restaurants and bars that cater for a transient population.

The city council put an obligation on Brookes to address this issue with a policy in the Local Plan which makes a reduction in the number of its students living in private accommodation a pre-requisite for further expansion of academic accommodation. Brookes has failed to meet these targets and so we believe that the city council has no option but to refuse permission for the proposed redevelopment.

These proposals go far beyond replacing existing buildings. They represent a considerable expansion in Brookes’ academic accommodation and will facilitate their declared aim of further increasing student numbers.

We strongly object to any expansion in student numbers as this will only worsen the current imbalance between students and the permanent residents of Oxford.

Peter Coggins Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association

Peter Sargent Jack Straws Lane Residents’ Association

Laura Elliott Hill Top Road Residents’ Association

Susan Lake Headington Hill Residents’ Association

Mary Hope New Headington Residents’ Association

Laurence Reynolds New Marston (South) Residents’ Association

Anthony Cheke Hurst Street Residents’ Association

Patrick Coulter Highfield Residents’ Association