Maverick’s back with Headington home plan

Martin Young Martin Young

PROPERTY developer Martin Young has relaunched his bid to bring 29 Old High Street in Headington back into use.

The dilapidated house has been empty for five years, and Mr Young was last year ordered to clear it up by Oxford City Council.

He wants to demolish “tatty” outbuildings and extend the main building to create one large home, but in December he withdrew his planning bid.

He had threatened to build 1970s-style chalets, permitted by an old planning permission from 1974, on the site to prove a point to planners.

But now he says his original plans are back on the table.

He said: “I’m re-starting the process which was stalled while I investigated the extent to which an old planning permission on the site was valid.

“At the 11th hour when it was about to go to committee with a recommendation for refusal I noticed the old plans included the demolition of the porch which I had done.

“There is a rule that once you have started something, planning permission doesn’t expire like it normally would.

“However, there was clearly going to be some debate about the issue and as it was recommended for refusal I felt I should withdraw it.”

But he eventually decided to re-submit his original bid, which, if approved, will mean there is one main house on the site.

He said: “I want to get rid of all the tatty bits and turn it into one big house. At the moment it’s just a long block with lots of rooms which gradually get smaller.”

Veronica Hurst, from the Friends of Old Headington group, said: “Were we able to see it restored as a house it could be a thoroughly agreeable house for its period. If that is Mr Young’s intention we would be happy to see it carried out.”

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Comments(11)

zimmer, Wolvecote. says...
2:07pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Being of an age where I can empathise with Martin, I can only say keep up the good work. I wish I had your energy to fight like that, it takes all mine just walking to the shop to get me milk for me tea.

OxfordResident says...
2:30pm Fri 15 Feb 13

zimmer, Wolvecote. wrote:
Being of an age where I can empathise with Martin, I can only say keep up the good work. I wish I had your energy to fight like that, it takes all mine just walking to the shop to get me milk for me tea.
The good work? He is a publicity seeking fantasist. He is deliberately causing problems because he is not getting his way in a conservation area - just like the rubbish tip he has created in Iffley.

zimmer, Wolvecote. says...
2:55pm Fri 15 Feb 13

OxfordResident wrote:
zimmer, Wolvecote. wrote:
Being of an age where I can empathise with Martin, I can only say keep up the good work. I wish I had your energy to fight like that, it takes all mine just walking to the shop to get me milk for me tea.
The good work? He is a publicity seeking fantasist. He is deliberately causing problems because he is not getting his way in a conservation area - just like the rubbish tip he has created in Iffley.
OXFORDRESIDENT. You obviously have not resident for a long time, otherwise you would know that this started when The City Council illegally took his car away and crushed it, The Council lost the resulting court case and thus started the VENDETTA. Martin is only looking for justice. Justice that will never be given to him by a vindictive council. Vast areas of cowley, and North & West Oxford have been given over to developers with the financial means to bully The Council into submission yet The Council still persecute this man. Only 200 yards away Dorset House has been built, right on a pedestrian crossing, dangerous with drunken students falling into the road. Yet Martin cannot build a few houses on his land. Look at the big picture before demonising a small old man. I wish I had his energy, it takes all mine just to go to the shop to get me milk for me tea.

Inkpot says...
3:48pm Fri 15 Feb 13

oxfordresident.....q
uite agree.....the man is a menace and needs to be slapped-down

Myron Blatz says...
4:04pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Oxford has slwags been known for 'cranks' - you only have to look at City Council itself!

Myron Blatz says...
4:14pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Think that should have read 'always' - and one good reason not to buy cheap keyboards from national computer stores? Mr Young migh appear 'cranky' to some, but according to nany Readers of the Oxford Mail, his actions may not appear to be any more bizzare than many of those by City Council Planning, which cost the people of Oxford many £thousands in salaries, consultations and bad planning decisions!

OxfordResident says...
10:26pm Fri 15 Feb 13

zimmer, Wolvecote. wrote:
OxfordResident wrote:
zimmer, Wolvecote. wrote:
Being of an age where I can empathise with Martin, I can only say keep up the good work. I wish I had your energy to fight like that, it takes all mine just walking to the shop to get me milk for me tea.
The good work? He is a publicity seeking fantasist. He is deliberately causing problems because he is not getting his way in a conservation area - just like the rubbish tip he has created in Iffley.
OXFORDRESIDENT. You obviously have not resident for a long time, otherwise you would know that this started when The City Council illegally took his car away and crushed it, The Council lost the resulting court case and thus started the VENDETTA. Martin is only looking for justice. Justice that will never be given to him by a vindictive council. Vast areas of cowley, and North & West Oxford have been given over to developers with the financial means to bully The Council into submission yet The Council still persecute this man. Only 200 yards away Dorset House has been built, right on a pedestrian crossing, dangerous with drunken students falling into the road. Yet Martin cannot build a few houses on his land. Look at the big picture before demonising a small old man. I wish I had his energy, it takes all mine just to go to the shop to get me milk for me tea.
Yes, I actually live in the area in question, and have done for 40 years.
He says he bought the house to live in, but is now using it for his own bizarre revenge mission which is not causing the council any pain, but certainly irritating all the local residents who have to put up with the sight of his deliberately run down, boarded up property.

55 stories in the Mail about him in less than 10 years, including ones about his arsenal of 422 shotguns.
His car was removed from a private road because it had been vandalised and complained about - he sued the council on a procedural matter.

Andrew:Oxford says...
11:03pm Fri 15 Feb 13

Myron Blatz wrote:
Think that should have read 'always' - and one good reason not to buy cheap keyboards from national computer stores? Mr Young migh appear 'cranky' to some, but according to nany Readers of the Oxford Mail, his actions may not appear to be any more bizzare than many of those by City Council Planning, which cost the people of Oxford many £thousands in salaries, consultations and bad planning decisions!
Should get yourself an "M" series keyboard from Unicomp.

It'll set you back about £120 including postage from the USA...

Simon33 says...
7:12am Sat 16 Feb 13

Never see him at Headington shops - why? Him, Gregg's naughty pigeon called Greg, and the bank job make it such a fun place.

zimmer, Wolvecote. says...
7:28pm Sun 17 Feb 13

OxfordResident wrote:
zimmer, Wolvecote. wrote:
OxfordResident wrote:
zimmer, Wolvecote. wrote:
Being of an age where I can empathise with Martin, I can only say keep up the good work. I wish I had your energy to fight like that, it takes all mine just walking to the shop to get me milk for me tea.
The good work? He is a publicity seeking fantasist. He is deliberately causing problems because he is not getting his way in a conservation area - just like the rubbish tip he has created in Iffley.
OXFORDRESIDENT. You obviously have not resident for a long time, otherwise you would know that this started when The City Council illegally took his car away and crushed it, The Council lost the resulting court case and thus started the VENDETTA. Martin is only looking for justice. Justice that will never be given to him by a vindictive council. Vast areas of cowley, and North & West Oxford have been given over to developers with the financial means to bully The Council into submission yet The Council still persecute this man. Only 200 yards away Dorset House has been built, right on a pedestrian crossing, dangerous with drunken students falling into the road. Yet Martin cannot build a few houses on his land. Look at the big picture before demonising a small old man. I wish I had his energy, it takes all mine just to go to the shop to get me milk for me tea.
Yes, I actually live in the area in question, and have done for 40 years.
He says he bought the house to live in, but is now using it for his own bizarre revenge mission which is not causing the council any pain, but certainly irritating all the local residents who have to put up with the sight of his deliberately run down, boarded up property.

55 stories in the Mail about him in less than 10 years, including ones about his arsenal of 422 shotguns.
His car was removed from a private road because it had been vandalised and complained about - he sued the council on a procedural matter.
Well done for twisting facts to suit yourself, you would make a good politician. An "arsenal" of 422 shotguns. actually you will find that it is a very valuable collection that any museum would be proud to be able to include in it's displays. It says something about the intelligence of our police that they cannot distinguish between that, and a sawn-off shotgun in the hands of a deranged thug.

JennyBear says...
10:03am Tue 19 Feb 13

As a supporter of the Wyatt Brothers in OCC's persecution and imprisonment.of said brothers I can only sympathise with the nonsense and underhand actions he's had to face from OCC.

Citizens of Oxford/shire have to bring the current staff of OCC to account for their blatant biased and destructive actions, thus ensuring a truly democratic County Council answerable to the public who pay their salaries.

Perhaps the plans for the house should include a large shark appearing from the roof in keeping with the norm in Headington!

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