The new infrastructure, submitted by Oxford University College Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Management, is linked to its scheme for 1,450 new homes at Bayswater Brook to the north of Barton.

The homes were previously permitted by South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee.

The bridge scheme was also set to be decided by them, but they ran out of time at their meeting. 

The application was discussed by Oxford City Council’s planning committee, on Tuesday, October 15, as it partly falls into its land area. 

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Bridge CGI (Image: Oxford City Council) The development includes a new A40 cycle and pedestrian bridge, new access onto Elsfield Lane, two accesses onto Bayswater Road, two new public transport crossing bridges over the Bayswater Brook and five pedestrian or cycle bridges over the Bayswater Brook.

Gavin Angell, development director for Dorchester Residential Management, spoke to the planning committee.

He said: “The pedestrian bridge over the A40 is the centrepiece of the proposals. Bayswater will promote the growth of Oxford by providing much needed homes.”

The main pedestrian bridge has been dubbed Noodle Bridge due to its shape. 

Planning officers recommended it for permission.

In their report, they said: “The development, where assessed as a whole would help deliver a mixed-use residential led scheme that was allocated within the South Oxfordshire Local Plan in order to help meet Oxford’s unmet housing need.

“The proposals for access and movement contained within the application have been provided as part of a broader strategy and hierarchy that has been developed to provide a high quality network that integrates the Bayswater Brook development with the adjacent neighbourhood areas and wider city beyond. 

“Although the development would result in less-than-substantial harm to a designated heritage asset, it is considered that the public benefits that would arise from the development would outweigh this harm.”

The committee’s vice-chairman Laurence Fouweather said: “I’m very pleased to see this bridge at long last over the A40. I will be supporting this.”

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, of the Carfax and Jericho, added: “South Oxfordshire has made a decision on the scheme itself, so it’s important to consider connectivity.

“A lot of work has been done to integrate Barton and Barton Park and this will do the same. The bridge over the A40 is a particular enhancement.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Mohammed Altaf-Khan said: “It will look very commercial compared to the rural area. The whole character of the A40 will change.”

The scheme was permitted unanimously. South Oxfordshire District Council will also make a decision on the application at a later date.