A councillor has queried the impartiality of the government’s planning inspectorate ahead of an appeal hearing that could overturn the decision of the local planning authority.

The hearing concerns Bicester’s Magistrates’ Court building – owned by the government’s housing accelerator, Homes England - which was the subject of a planning application by GG Oxford Investments Ltd in July 2021.

The application sought to demolish the grade II listed building and replace it with 48 flats, together with landscaping, car parking, bin stores, secure cycle parking and associated infrastructure.

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Cherwell District Council’s planning authority’s decision to refuse the application came in July 2022, following which the developer lodged the appeal.

The hearing will take place at the John Paul II Centre in Bicester on April 18.

Councillor John Broad said: “We rejected the application because it’s a block of flats right next to the conservation area, with no car parking spaces, except two disabled ones.

“The upcoming hearing will go before a government appointed planning inspector.

“My query is, if the inspector agrees with our planning committee and declines the application, then is he or she going against the government? Seeing as they own the building and contracted a developer to replace it with flats.

“And if the inspector accepts the appeal, can he or she be truly independent and impartial?

“Does the inspector work to government guidance or are they just working to their own ideas?

“We know from a few applications around the country that there doesn’t seem to be any consistency on decisions made on planning applications.”

A Planning Inspectorate Spokesperson said in response: “Inspectors are independent and impartial. When making a decision the inspector fully considers the evidence submitted at the appeal and takes account of current planning legislation, policy and guidance.”

Councillor Les Sibley objected to the original planning application on the basis of its interjection in a conservation area.

He said: “The Magistrates’ Court lies close to conservation area and its settings, and within an area of an historic environment and archaeological interests.

“The area contains many listed and important civic buildings, of which the court is one, on Queens Avenue.

“The proposed development does not preserve or enhance the character or the appearance of the area.

“I object to the proposed loss of a designated heritage asset by demolition of Waverley House which is a locally listed building that is part of Bicester’s heritage.

“The neighbouring Bicester police station building has also been designated by the council as a locally listed building.

“The former Magistrates’ Court building was built to house the offices and council chamber of Ploughley Rural District Council, and was built to compliment the other similar styled public buildings on the west side of Queens Avenue.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1