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Planning appeal decision

Dismissed23 January 20263374226

166 - 168 Cowley Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1UE

Planning appeal 3374226 at 166 - 168 Cowley Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 1UE (Oxford City Council) was dismissed on 23 January 2026 by Inspector Robinson N, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the host buildings and the surrounding area.

extension and alteration of nos. 166 & 168 Cowley Road to provide 1 new self contained flat, and to provide 2 x 2 bed flats in place of 2 x 1 bedroom flats

Authority
Oxford City Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Robinson N
Postcode
OX4 1UE

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the host buildings and the surrounding area
  • whether the proposal would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers
  • the effect of the proposal on protected species
  • the effect of the proposal on the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring properties 164 and 170 Cowley Road

What decided it

The unacceptable impact on character and appearance from an extension that would dominate the host buildings, combined with inadequate living conditions for future occupiers and unresolved protected species concerns, outweighed the modest housing supply benefits.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy RE2Policy DH1Policy H16Policy H15Policy G2Policy RE7Policy H14

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

See how each was applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Oxford City Council

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

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  4. Allowed25 September 20266011486
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.