Major plans for a new Oxford University graduate college in the city centre have been recommended for approval by town hall officials.
Warneford Hospital in Headington would be redeveloped into a mental health hub under the proposals put forward by Oxford University Hospitals Trust and the University of Oxford.
It would include a new mental health hospital, a modern facility for brain research and a post-graduate medical college for the university.
Dozens objections from residents, politicians, heritage groups and even a school have been sent to Oxford City Council.
A computer-generated image of Warneford Park (Image: Cityscape Digital for Eric Parry Architects)
But city council planning officer Chloe Jacobs has set the plans on the course to be approved by recommending that councillors approve the scheme subject to legal agreements at a meeting on Tuesday, April 21.
Ms Jacobs said in her report that overall the redevelopment is supported “in principle” as the site is in the local plan for redevelopment and the loss of the sports pitch would be compensated through an infrastructure funding agreement.
She said: “The proposed hospital building and research centre would not result in significant harm to neighbouring uses including the Headington Care Home or Warneford Halls of residence to the east.
“Concerns have been raised in regard to the impact of the proposed college buildings on residents along Divinity Road and Hill Top Road however, it is considered that the proposed buildings would not have any significant adverse impacts.
“Furthermore, the college buildings form part of the outline consent and detailed designs would be secured through a separate reserved matters application where further assessments of the residential impacts would be carried out.”
A computer-generated image of Warneford Park (Image: Cityscape Digital for Eric Parry Architects)
Warneford Hospital in Headington (Image: Oxford Mail)
Many of the initial objections raised fears about how the new hub could impact traffic in the area, as a result of the addition 186 extra car parking spaces, many of which are for commercial use rather than for NHS staff.
Oxford Health said it worked with the university to use the minimum number of spaces possible, and that the plans include investments which aim to minimise the traffic impact.
What’s more, the plans would require more than 90 trees to be cut down but Ms Jacobs said there would in fact be a net increase in tree canopy cover across the site of nearly 30 per cent in 30 years.
Cheney School, across the road from the Warneford Hospital, has also objected claiming the new hub would “exacerbate” an already existing road safety issue at school opening and closing times.
However, Ms Jacobs said the the 1,700 students of Cheney School would benefit from the moving of the current entrance/exit to a safer location.
Councillors on the planning committee will make the ultimate decision on the planning application next week.