Proposal:
Application number 24/01821/FUL. Demolition of part of the third floor and construction of new rooftop extensions. The refurbishment and reconfiguration of the third floor to allow for the creation a new academic hub with flexible seminar and innovation space, flexible open laboratories, support space and research offices. The creation of an external terrace and new plant room enclosures, flues and risers. The insertion of new third floor windows in the north elevation of the building.
Department Of Physiology Parks Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 3PT
Our Response:
Many of the changes proposed to the Sherrington building, as detailed in the above application, are positive. The Trust are encouraged by the commitment to establishing a new academic hub, flexible seminar and innovation space, flexible open laboratories, and support space to the otherwise congruous research centre, reinstalling some of the institutions former variety and function.
Though OPT do not object in principle to the modernisation of the facility, ensuring a continued and more adaptive use, the Trust are wary of the significant increase to the buildings massing. The incremental additions of an additional storey on the height of the 1960’s roof extension, enclosed services and plant (which effectively results in and fifth floor) and flues above this all contribute to the proposal impacting on both short and longer distance views, in and out of the City.
The application site sits within the Central (University & City) Conservation Area, and then within Character Zone Assessment 8 – the University Science Area, as detailed within the Conservation Area Appraisal. This document specifically discusses the Sherrington Building and highlights how visible it is from University Parks. The appraisal goes on to state that “..the nature and use of buildings in the science area often require plant equipment that has had an effect on the roofscape. The most successful buildings have integrated this into the design, rather than being an add-on.” OPT are aware that services and flues are a necessity for modern laboratory buildings, but as the Conservation Area Appraisal highlights these should be designed into schemes rather than appeared as an add-on to the roof of the building. In this instance OPT would urge the applicant to reconsider their scale, based on the potential harm the proposal would pose on Oxford’s historic skyline. The applicants own View and Townscape Assessment concludes that there will be a slight adverse impact on at least seven identified visual receptors across the city.
OPT recognise the view and townscape impact assessment conducted by the applicant as a useful resource, but note that it appears to fail to consider or assess the impact of the scheme on longer distance views into the city, for example the identified viewcone at Elsfield and Raleigh Park to the west. These views in towards Oxford hold great significance, and a full assessment of the potential impacts should be provided by the applicant.