Local residents campaigning against the redevelopment of a historic boatyard in Jericho were joined today by a senior architect condemning the plans.
A former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, George Ferguson, has called plans to build 54 flats on Oxford’s Castle Mill Boatyard as ‘uninspiring’ and ‘dull’. His letter of complaint to Oxford City Council is one of more than 600 from local residents opposing the scheme, who object to the ill-considered character of the plans.
The residents state that they are not anti-development, but are calling for the site’s developers Springer Residential to produce a more thoughtful design for the area, which would take into account community facilities and the area’s heritage, neither of which they say the company has considered.
Philip Pullman is among those in opposition to the plans. He spoke earlier this month specifically mentioning them in his complaint that Oxford is becoming a ‘concrete wasteland’.
The plans are currently under consideration by Oxford City Council.
