65 Oxford Road was surrounded by shrubs and trees when the Google Street View camera came through Abingdon.
Here is 65 Oxford Road as it looks today. Not a blade of grass remains.
Permission to demolish the original house and replace it with two detached houses was obtained subject to certain conditions, including the protection of trees.
A report, previous to this planning application, from August 2009, says that there were 11 trees (2 of high quality, 3 of medium quality, 5 of lower quality, and 1 of inferior quality).
Thanks to Pat for 2 of the pictures and Google for the other.
Am I missing the trees in your picture?
Here is a picture from 2009 of a Garden Party at 65 where trees are more visible.
Its okay, they haven’t disposed of their two wheelie bins though… that is literally all I could see that was left on the site as I went past the other day !! Doubtless the developer will blame an “overzealous” contractor.
What happened to the protected species survey of the pond?
The old story… ‘mistakes have been made, lessons have been learnt’.
Does anyone know who gave permission for demolition and specified that the trees should be retained? Are they doing anything about the breach of conditions?
The various planning applications and extensions to planning applications are freely available at the Vale of White Horse planning site – search for planning permissions for OX14 2AA -or maybe try http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/java/support/dynamic_serve.jsp?ID=251012782&CODE=33235DA28E1779D4D716734320D1B5E3
IF there has been any breach, it is not difficult to imagine that any small fine will be dwarfed by the profit made on the site.
See also P14/V0078/DIS – application to discharge the requirement to protect the trees – submitted in January, after the deed had been done.
Oh for heavens sake …… tear down a beautiful old house and shove up a modern, square glass box for all to gawp into or 30 flats.
No taste.
There was a lovely holly bush in the front corner of the garden. It was in amazing condition this winter, I couldn’t believe the garden and house could disappear so quickly. More green space gone. Less habitat for birds and creatures. Sad.
This site has been devastated, but the major concern is that, unless pressure is brought to bear on the developers to plant several MATURE trees as replacements for those that have been lost, a precedent is set for all the other houses in the Oxford Road and we’ll lose this very attractive entrance to the town.