New Development Plan For Essex House

THE Planning committee of Thame Town Council will meet tomorrow, (Tuesday, May 16) at 6.30pm, and the plans under discussion will include an amended plan for the demolition of the Essex House Hotel and the building of two, 2.5 storey apartment blocks in its place.
A previous, similar application was recently rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council on the following grounds:

“That having regard to the size, height, bulk, massing and detailing of the proposed two apartment buildings and to their siting adjacent to the footpath in Cotmore Gardens and in close proximity to Bridge Terrace, the proposal would appear prominent, intrusive and out of keeping with the character of the area and would detract from the modest character of Bridge Terrace. In addition the proposal would result in the permanent loss of Essex House Hotel which is considered to be an important landmark building of local historic interest that should be retained.”

The previous plan had met with the disapproval of Thame Town Council who subsequently applied to have the building and the ex-railway workers’ cottages in Bridge Terrace, included in the Thame Conservation Area, but was turned down by English Heritage.
A letter to Tessa Jowell, the then Minister responsible for Heritage, was then sent by the town council appealing against that decision.

NB The committee will also be discussing plans submitted by The Steamer Trading Company, who are taking over David Healey’s furniture shop from the end of the month, to erect a single storey rear extension, remove a tree, make internal alterations, provide a new shop front and erect new signage.