Councillors have approved plans for a 145-unit aparthotel to replace Oxford’s Odeon cinema.
Marick Real Estate’s plans for the scheme to replace the 1930s-built cinema in George Street were given the thumbs up by Oxford City Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, October 15.
The main objection to the six-storey aparthotel, which will be operated under Staycity’s Wilde brand and will have a café, lounge, gym, laundry facilities and 24-hour reception, came from Cllr David Henwood.
He said: “I’m finding it difficult to reconcile the harm and the relationship the proposed development would have in relation to the conservation area, surrounding Grade II-listed buildings, the views from The Mound and the need for something to change in the area.
“I just don’t think this application ticks all the boxes.”
Apartments will be a mix of studios and one-bedroom units and each will have its own kitchen. There will be a community space on the ground floor of the scheme to be operated by the Makespace Oxford charity.
Councillors at the meeting also approved Railpen’s application for full planning permission to demolish all five buildings at Eastpoint Business Park at Sandford Gate, off Sandy Lane West, for a scheme of more than 20,000 sq m of life sciences R&D lab space in three new buildings.
© Thames Tap (powered by ukpropertyforums.com).
Sign up to receive our weekly free journal, The Forum here.