L. St Margaret’s, North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area (NOVSCA)
General Overview
St Margaret’s Ward comprises about one half of the North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area (Novsca). This is characterized in the existing draft Novsca appraisal, now a decade old and unadopted, as ‘one of the most complete Victorian suburbs in England.’ See: https://www.oxford.gov.uk/downloads/…/north_oxford_conservation_area_
The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 s.69 requires Local Planning Authorities to review their conservation areas from time to time and to formulate and publish proposals for their further preservation and enhancement.
In response to pressure from the local City Councillor, an independent consultant was appointed to prepare a new conservation appraisal in Summer 2015. A date of January 2016 for the final report was given. As a result, the Neighbourhood Forum determined that a Character Assessment of St Margaret’s Ward by Forum members (as undertaken in the Summertown ward) would not be appropriate or necessary. Unfortunately, the consultant was not able to continue the project and in August 2016 a new firm, Artemis Heritage, were appointed to conclude the appraisal.
Artemis’ first draft was sent to the Local Authority in late November 2016 and Artemis anticipates that the process of consultation and recommendation should be completed in Spring 2017.
Nearly the whole of St Margaret’s Ward was built on the St John’s Estate but, since many architects were involved over the century from the 1850s to the 1950s, there are a variety of house styles: Victorian Gothic, Neo-Jacobean and Arts & Crafts predominate, with the occasional adventurous townhouse but more frequently a Victorian pastiche or a suburban 1950s villa.
Artemis Heritage have divided the St Margaret’s half of the Novsca area into four sections to reflect varying building styles: (a) the Bardwell Estate, north of Park Town and east of the Banbury Road – Edwardian and Arts & Crafts houses (b) the Banbury Road – a major artery road bordered by vast Victorian houses set back in mature front gardens (c) St Margaret’s, west of the Banbury Road, bordered by the Oxford canal – mostly Victorian terraces and semi-detached properties reflecting the social class of their early residents (d) Bainton Road, and roads north of Rawlinson Road
The appraisal will propose a five year conservation management plan.
The new appraisal is keenly awaited by the Neighbourhood Forum, and will inform the sections in Area L. on Issues, Assets and Guidance for New Development.
The appraisal will form an integral part of the Neighbourhood Plan as it relates to St Margaret’s Ward.
History
The St John’s Estate was developed by the College in the years after 1850 to provide homes for the rapidly expanding middle classes: mainly well-to-do tradesmen and the retired or financially independent.
After 1877 when dons were allowed to marry, some settled in North Oxford but the suburb had largely been built by that stage, thanks to the efforts of speculative builders funded by the Oxford Building and Investment Company. It is an Oxford myth that the liberation of the dons was the reason for the building of North Oxford.
St Margaret’s ward has remained largely residential, although as the twentieth century progressed, larger houses were converted into flats, hotels, student accommodation and private educational establishments.
Since the turn of the century there has been a further change which may be more damaging to the Novsca area than any in the last century, caused at least in part by the steep rise in North Oxford prices and the Government’s encouragement of buy-to-let. The result has been a decline in the social mix which characterized the early Novsca area, a lack of affordable housing and the creation of a rented sector prohibitive to those on an average income.
A further result has been the many small changes in the appearance of houses and streets in the conservation area. Houses have been extended, doors and windows altered, front gardens replaced by parking places and bins. The greenery for which North Oxford is known – mature trees, leafy front gardens and glimpses between houses to vistas beyond – is being eroded. The conservation area needs to be supported if it is to preserve and enhance a remarkable Victorian estate.
