Rooftop 5G equipment at Alice House, Oxford

“EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2.1. This report considers an application to install telecommunications equipment comprising the installation of 6 no. antennas and 4 no. transmission dishes on support poles, together with 4 no. equipment cabinets and ancillary development including 1.1m safety handrail 2.2. The report below considers the proposal and the principle of development, impact on design and heritage, neighbouring amenity, transport and highways…”

“PROPOSAL 6.1. The application proposes the installation of a number of telecommunication antennas and associated equipment on the western roof of Alice House. This installation is to replace the telecommunications equipment and coverage previously provided on the Waynflete Building, which has now been demolished.”

“The Florey building is constructed to an equivalent of 6 storeys whilst Anchor Court to its south rises to 5 floors with a pitched roof. The site is also located within ‘The Plain’ character area of the St Clement’s and Iffley Road Conservation Area 5.3. The site is located within a sensitive area, including within the Crescent Road View Cone and the South Park view cone, which provides protected views of the historic roof scape of central Oxford. See block plan below:”

“III. Highways 10.29. Policy RE7 of the OLP2036 states that planning permission will only be granted for development that does not have unacceptable transport impacts affecting communities, occupiers, neighbours and the existing transport network. The proposed development would be sited away from the public highway and would therefore not have a harmful impact in terms of transport or highways safety. IV. Trees 10.31.”

“Policy G7 also states that planning permission will not be granted for development resulting in the loss of other trees, except in the following circumstances where it can be demonstrated that retention of the trees is not feasible; and where tree retention is not feasible, any loss of tree canopy cover should be mitigated by the planting of new trees or introduction of additional tree cover (with consideration to the predicted future tree canopy on the site following…”

“Site notices were displayed around the application site on 27th May 2025 and an advertisement was published in The Oxford Times newspaper on 22nd May 2025. Statutory and non-statutory consultees Oxford Preservation Trust 9.2. No comments were received by OPT throughout the 21-day public consultation period. Historic England 9.3. Historic England do not wish to offer any comments on this application. Natural England 9.4.”

“Officer response 9.7. Officer’s comments and response to any of the points above (where material consideration), are dealt with later in the report below.”

“The Planning Officer gave a presentation outlining the details of the location and the proposal. This included existing and proposed elevations and plans: • The application sought planning permission to install telecommunications equipment on the roof of Alice House to provide 5G communication coverage that had been lost due to the demolition and subsequent ongoing redevelopment.”

“The Committee asked questions about the details of the application which were responded to by the officers.”

“On being proposed, seconded, and put to the vote, the Committee agreed with the officer’s recommendation to approve the application for the reasons set out in the report and subject to conditions.”

“The Oxford City Planning Committee resolved to: 1. Approve the application for the reasons given in the report and subject to the required planning conditions set out in section 12 of this report and grant planning permission 2.”

“Reason: In accordance with Section 91(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Planning Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 Approved plans 2. The development permitted shall be constructed in complete accordance with the specifications in the application and approved plans listed below, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the local planning authority.”

“Notwithstanding the approved plans, the herby approved railings should exactly match the design of the existing rooftop railings. Reason: In the interests of visual amenity and to ensure some consistency across the building in accordance with Policies DH1, DH2 and DH3.”