Crime & Safety
Controversial home on edge of Oxford could get green light
Developers are looking to knock down outbuildings at 5 Cuddesdon Road in Horspath to replace them with a new two-storey detached home and a 2.5-storey building with three one-bedroom apartments.
Horspath Parish Council has objected to the proposed development, calling it an overdevelopment of the site.
Hayley Kogel, clerk to the parish council, said: “Councillors object to this application and recommend refusal on the grounds that it is an overdevelopment of the site.”
Two other neighbours in Horspath have also claimed the new home and apartments would not be in-keeping with the village.
Horspath householder Andrew Gandy said: “This is an area of family homes and flats or apartments are out of vibe on such a busy part of the road.”
Martin Harris, who lives next door to the proposed development, said Cuddesdon Road already sees a lot of cars passing through and claimed the development would “reduce road safety”.
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He claimed vehicles emerging from the home and apartments would disturb the flow of traffic on the road.
“With such a busy road passing close outside the vehicular gate to No.5, it should be essential to improve the visibility between drivers in this flow of traffic and any drivers from No.5,” Mr Harris added.
Planning officer Paul Bowers said in a report: “The application seeks permission for a new vehicular access onto Cuddesdon Road which is subject to a 20mph speed limit.
“However, no vehicular visibility splay diagram for the proposed new vehicular access onto Cuddesdon Road has been submitted.
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“Vehicular visibility splays of 2.4m x 25m were measured on site and were deemed achievable, therefore this can be taken care of by way of the proposed condition.
“The applicant is proposing a car parking provision of one space per dwelling (three total) with an associated turning area; this is acceptable and in line with Oxfordshire County Council standards.
“The applicant has indicated an area where cycle parking and bin storage are proposed. Cycle parking must be accessible by the residents of the proposed dwellings independently at all times.
“The proposed cycle parking area appears acceptable in terms of location. However, cycle parking facilities have not been demonstrated in the submitted documentation.”
Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, has not objected to the application subject to conditions being agreed to.
This includes prior to the use of the new vehicular access, visibility splays are provided in both directions.
The proposal will be decided by South Oxfordshire councillors on Wednesday evening (May 20).
The move is part of the council’s wider plans to improve office space across the county and support more flexible ways of working.
Midland House in Botley has been chosen as a temporary base while longer-term changes take place, including plans to turn County Hall into a hotel and open a new, permanent office at Speedwell House in spring 2028.
Dan Levy, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for finance, property and transformation, said: “We are looking forward in coming times to seeing Speedwell House taking shape as a new net zero office in 2028 as well as watching County Hall change and then thrive in its new guise as a hotel.
“The sale of County Hall is providing the funding for the renewal of Speedwell House.”
He said the closure of County Hall is expected in late 2026, with the nearby Midland House, located on West Way, offering ‘practical, well-equipped’ office space.
Mr Levy said: “Our existing offices throughout the county will provide bases for our teams and these will now be supplemented by the excellent and ideally located Midland House.
“These are solid plans from which our officers can continue to provide excellent services to the people of Oxfordshire.”
Midland House’s transport links, including proximity to Seacourt Park and Ride, contributed to its selection as a temporary office location.
Contracts for the sale of County Hall were exchanged in late 2025, with L&G commissioning developers Reef Origin for the site’s redevelopment.
Abbey Meadows Outdoor Pool, in Abingdon, failed to reopen as temperatures soared to 30C over the bank holiday weekend.
The Radcliffe Meteorological Station in Oxford said it was “a record breaking day” with a provisional May maximum of 33.4C, 2.8C above the previous 1944 record.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, a spokesperson for the outdoor pool said: “We are delighted to announce that we plan to open Abbey Meadows in mid-June, on a dynamic programme subject to weather conditions, as trialled in 2025.
“Whilst this faced its challenges last year, and with costs continuing to grow, we are doing all we can to ensure that we maximise the potential of this fantastic facility.
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“The contract we have to operate Abbey Meadows is for the summer school holidays only and we are continuing to seek additional funding to help the pool open earlier.
“More details will follow in the coming weeks so please keep your eyes on our social media.”
Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), which operates the pool under the brand Better UK, said it had planned to reopen on July 18.
“We schedule reopening to coincide with the beginning of the school summer holidays, when we know the pool will be busy,” it said in a statement.
“However, if the current warm weather continues, we are exploring the option of opening early, in mid-June this year.
“This would be the minimum turnaround time, to get the pool, cleaned, operational and fully staffed.”
The plash pad and kiosk at the pool opened last weekend.
Thames Valley Police today, Wednesday, May 27, announced that missing 16-year-old Jacob and missing girl Jessica, have both been found.
It comes after two separate appeals were shared yesterday asking the public to help find the missing individuals.
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Jessica was last seen in Bicester and was believed to be in the Banbury area, while Jacob was said to be missing from Abingdon.
The force thanked those who had shared the appeals in an effort to assist the search and locate the missing teenagers.
Police asked anyone who had shared the pictures of the missing people to now remove them, to restore their privacy.
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