M. Woodstock Road
General overview
Woodstock Road, the A4144, is one of two main arterial roads connecting North Oxford with the city centre. It is a very attractive wide road with gentle curves and slopes, lined by mature trees and shrubs on pavements and in the front gardens of houses. The leafy green appearance of Woodstock Road is usually the first feature listed by anyone describing the attractions of North Oxford. Unfortunately this road is now dominated by traffic with tailbacks at peak times. There is significant air and noise pollution.
Most of the houses are large detached houses built in the first half of the twentieth century. There is no dominant architectural style but the overall effect is very pleasant. Many of the houses have had minor alterations, no doubt for practical reasons, but these have not adversely affected their appearance or architectural integrity. There is some later infill development, and in some places small houses and small blocks of flats have been built on larger plots after demolition of the original houses. These modern developments are often of Edwardian pastiche design and of little architectural merit. The houses are partially hidden by the trees in their front gardens. These front gardens are large enough to accommodate off road parking with ease. The property boundaries are a mixture of brick and stone walls, fences and hedges.
St Edward’s School, located half-way down the road, is a significant collection of buildings adding to the interest of this important entrance road. The playing fields opposite are part of a smooth transition to the Oxford Canal green space.
The 1960s teaching block, by the main entrance to the school complex, is a low point in an otherwise splendid series of red brick Victorian Gothic buildings.
The Woodstock Road is wide enough to allow for three lanes of traffic, including a bus lane on the east side of the road. The pavements are wide enough to allow for a cycle lane on the west pavement but currently this is little more than a painted white line. The tarmac of the road is in poor condition. The pavements, also tarmac, do nothing to improve the landscape. There is little good quality street furniture and no benches for pedestrians other than at bus stops. The double yellow lines, indicating no parking, and the white line indicating the cycle track, are obtrusive.
The entrance to Elizabeth Jennings Way has an undistinguished modern block of flats, best described as Edwardian pastiche, on the south corner and a view towards playing fields and a small Edwardian sports pavilion on the north corner.
The streetscape is saved by glorious mature trees. Most of these are in front gardens but there are four mature (and one replacement) lime trees in the west pavement.
History
Woodstock Road was first developed by successful tradesmen building a few large houses in the first half of the nineteenth century.
Two of these three large houses remain: Henley House has been converted into Lynam’s School. Functional school buildings have been built in front of it, but the whole site is well hidden behind a stone wall and superimposed hedge; Summertown Villa is a substantial Regency style house, built in 1840. It cannot be seen as it is set well back from the road; The Avenue, built by George Kimber, the original developer of Summertown, was demolished and replaced by Bishop Kirk School in 1964. The school was in turn demolished in 1994 and replaced with Bishop Kirk Place housing.
Issues
– Woodstock Road works beyond capacity at peak times. The North Oxford Transport strategy (NOTS) predicts that in 2026 southbound peak morning traffic will have increased by 44%. This increasing gridlock will be intolerable and makes no sense in terms of the City’s economy or the quality of life of either residents or commuters. Traffic is made worse by east-west traffic to Headington being channeled along Moreton Road (B4495), a short residential road, to Marston Ferry Road
– The character of the area is in danger of being eroded by piecemeal demolition of houses and overdevelopment of their plots with poorly-designed pastiche houses. The character of individual houses is being damaged by unsympathetic alterations. This is another argument for including the area in a Conservation Area and protecting the integrity of these houses with an Article 4 Direction
– Woodstock Road has very poor foundations with the result that heavy traffic causes rutting of the road surface and potholes. Both roads require frequent patching and resurfacing. In the long term it would be more economical for them to be re-engineered. This would also provide an opportunity to lay a tramway. The rails for the tramway could be laid in grass, which would break up the monotony of tarmac and improve the appearance of the road
– A well-engineered cycle lane down the Woodstock Road is essential if cycle use is to be encouraged. The present cycle lane is inadequate. Oxfordshire County Council proposes a Cycle Super Route down the Woodstock Road. This needs to be continuous and dedicated solely to cyclists, separating them from vehicular traffic and pedestrians. It should be clearly indicated by the colour of the surface yet unobtrusive
Assets
– Woodstock Road Baptist Church is on the southern corner of Beechcroft Road. The 1897 Church Hall is hidden by a utilitarian1930s hall with a 21st century entrance. It is set back from the Woodstock Road, its lawn and mature pine trees providing a pleasant green space. Keble and St Hugh’s sports ground is at the northern-west end. It gives a sense of space to the road despite being partially hidden by a high chain-link fence and hedging
– The attractive Arts and Crafts house on the corner of Lathbury Road was recently saved from demolition and redevelopment. It is in the NOVSCA area. The attractive, but less important, Edwardian house on the corner of Elizabeth Jennings Way was demolished and replaced by inferior Edwardian pastiche flats. It was not in a Conservation Area
– The leafy green character of the Woodstock Road should be regarded as a heritage asset and protected for the future. All but two of the trees on this stretch of the Woodstock Road are in private gardens and unprotected. They are vulnerable to residents worried about falling branches, intolerant of shade or fallen leaves, or just wanting more off road parking. This is a strong argument for extending the North Oxford Victorian Suburb Conservation Area (NOVSCA) up to the ring road
Guidance for new development
– A continuous dedicated bus lane from Peartree Park and Ride and Oxford Parkway Railway Station down the Woodstock Road to the city centre is urgently needed
– More radical solutions such as city centre congestion charging and a tramway need to be considered in the medium term
– Respectful contemporary architecture should be encouraged
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