A MEDIEVAL street in Oxford city centre could be harmed if 133 student rooms are built, according to a heritage group.

The Oxford Preservation Trust is worried that plans to redevelop a building in Queen Street could have an impact on the area’s Anglo-Saxon origins.

English Heritage also believes the site has “high potential for archaeological remains of national importance”.

Oxford City Council planning officers have recommended the scheme by Reed Estates should be approved.

Our top stories

In a statement made to the council as part of a public consultation, the trust’s director Debbie Dance said it was a “very sensitive position at the heart of Oxford” and was concerned about its height.

She added: “This is a big building in a narrow street and we have had a number of discussions over the façade onto Queen Street.

“We regret the loss of the reference to narrow plots which date from Saxon times when this formed part of the Jewish Quarter, and which remain the character of the adjoining buildings in Queen Street.

The development would see buildings currently occupied by Swarovski and EAT demolished. They would be replaced with a five-storey complex of shops, including a food and drink outlet, and flats.

Some 79 of these flats would be used by Christ Church College and the rest by other students.

English Heritage had no issue with its scale, design or appearance of the designs but believed more work needed to be done to find out the potential impact on buried archaeology.

Assistant inspector of historic buildings and areas Alice Brockway said: “The site is located in a critical area for the understanding of the origins of the town of Oxford lying as it does at the very centre of the oldest part of the town.

“As yet it is unclear whether there are intact archaeological deposits under the current building.

“If these do survive they could be of national significance.”

Oxfordshire County Council supports the proposal but said it was “imperative” that footpaths were not narrowed due to the development because they are used by waiting bus passengers.

The developer has agreed to pay almost £630,000 in contributions for affordable housing elsewhere.

In a planning statement, Reed Estates said: “The proposed development will significantly regenerate this area of Oxford and provide prime retail space for national multiple retailers.”

City council planning officer Andrew Murdoch said in a report that any harm would be “justified by the public benefits.”

He recommended the proposal should be approved, subject to legal documents being signed.

The city council’s west area planning committee will make the final decision when it meets at the Town Hall on Wednesday, November 12 at 6pm.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.