Warneford Park Pre-planning application consultation

The Headington Neighbourhood Plan (2017-2032) sets three overarching objectives which are: 

• Improving the quality of life for residents, workers and students;
• Establishing and promoting an identity which embraces the diverse nature of Headington; and 
• Fostering beneficial development. Each of the proposed policies in the Neighbourhood Plan has been drafted in the context of these objectives. The proposed development will have regard to the Neighbourhood Plan relevant policies to ensure support for these objectives. 

Of relevance will be the policies relating to green space, including public access to green space, the consideration of local character and the protection of locally important views. These, amongst the other relevant policies, have, and will continue to, inform the design progress. 

We will be providing services across Oxfordshire for Adult and Older Adult acute. The male psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) will support all Oxford Health patients (across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire) and the eating disorders service supports HOPE (Healthy Outcomes for People with Eating disorders) Adult Eating Disorder Provider Collaborative. This is a group of providers (Oxford Health, Berkshire Health, Gloucester Health and the Priory Group) of specialist services working together to provide excellent care, sharing approaches, maximising care close to home. 

A future bus strategy is being developed between the project team, the Trust, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford Bus Company. Current proposals could include options such as a dedicated express bus service, and a potential shuttle bus between the site and local Park and Ride sites. 

Some people asked about creating a cycle path across the Meadow. We are mindful of the Meadow’s Town Green Status and would like to reiterate that it is outside of the scope of our planning application. However, we have started a conversation with the Friends of Warneford Meadow to understand what constraints and opportunities there might be for Warneford Meadow.

The potential impact on the Lye Valley Fen and Nature Reserve is included in the Flood Risk Assessment for the proposed development. The surface water drainage strategy will continue to drain the existing and proposed buildings via on site infiltration. This will maintain the existing groundwater regime and thus mitigate the impact of the development.

Lye Valley – Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

It is recognised that Warneford Hospital is near the Lye Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is highly sensitive to changes in hydrology and groundwater due to rare peat deposits. The proposed development has been assessed in relation to the SSSI, which is approximately 670m from the site boundary at its closest point.

The Boundary Brook watercourse flows in a valley between the development and the SSSI and is shown to be at a much lower level than the development site and the SSSI. Given the topography and location of the existing watercourse, it is likely that the groundwater flow from both the development site and the SSSI is towards the Boundary Brook, with no direct linkage between the two areas. That said, the proposed surface water drainage strategy is to continue to drain the Hospital via infiltration, as it currently does. This will maintain the existing groundwater regime and thus mitigate the potential impact of the proposed development on the SSSI.

We are mindful of the Town Green Status of the Meadow and the Meadow is outside the scope of the planning application. We are aware that some local residents would like to see improvements made to the Meadow and so we have started a conversation with the Friends of Meadow to understand what constraints and opportunities exist.

Compared to the existing facilities at the Warneford Hospital site the proposed new building is bigger than that which it replaces. That is because we are bringing two wards from Littlemore and two from the Churchill onto the Warneford site.  Specifications for modern mental healthcare delivery require larger rooms and ensuite facilities. Therapeutic spaces are also being enhanced and improved.

Yes, there will be staff space that will support wellbeing and break opportunities in areas away from clinical settings. There will also be cycle racks and showers provided.

Currently there are one or two showers at the Warneford Hospital, but in the new hospital there will be a range of facilities available either on the inpatient units or a separate staff focused facility with showers, changing rooms, lounge, sleep-rooms with ensuite for on-call clinicians. We are working with wellbeing leads to ensure that the space provided is much enhanced and led by staff needs.

Landscapes and gardens will be key components of this hospital design and we aim to have nature visible from all the rooms within the wards. Terrace gardens will provide safe outdoor space and connection with nature. Views to the Warneford Meadow will be available from each of the inpatient units.

Yes, we will publish a Statement of Community Involvement report which will set out what engagement we have undertaken, the key findings and how we have responded.

We are providing answers to questions that we have received and posting them online for everyone’s benefit.

Additionally, when we hold our second consultation we will set out the key themes where we had questions and provide more detail on those topics.

We believe that the above approach will enable everyone to see the audit trail from question to response.