LONDON — Oxford West Gateway Inc. received council approval on November 5, 2024, for a transformative, high-density development project at 1856–1910 Oxford Street West.
The approved development includes two residential towers, 11 and 10 storeys, featuring a mixed-use design with both residential and commercial spaces.
Located within London’s South Riverbend neighbourhood, this approved project aims to enhance the existing WestRock shopping area with a blend of amenities that promote sustainable, vibrant community growth.
The approved development covers 3.28 hectares (8.1 acres) at the intersection of Oxford Street West and Westdel Bourne.
It comprises 223 residential units and approximately 840 square metres of ground-floor commercial space.
The design includes carefully planned setbacks and stepbacks to harmonize with the surrounding area, preserving sky views and reducing visual impacts on nearby properties.
To enable the approved project, Oxford West Gateway Inc. submitted and received approval for a Zoning By-law amendment, changing the site’s zoning from Community Shopping Area Special Provision (CSA5(6)) to a new designation, CSA5(**), with specific provisions.
The approved amendments address deviations from existing requirements, including a reduction in long-term bicycle parking spaces from the required 201 to 98 and a minimum interior side yard depth of 2.0 metres rather than the current 4.5-metre requirement.
Additionally, an increase in maximum building height from 15.0 to 40.0 metres was approved to accommodate the towers.
Council also approved changes to the Riverbend South Secondary Plan within the 2016 Official Plan to include a site-specific policy for the Commercial Land Use Designation.
The amendment aligns with the Riverbend South Secondary Plan’s vision, supporting a well-integrated mix of residential and commercial areas designed to enhance community engagement and support local living.
The approved parking provisions for the development include 511 spaces, significantly exceeding the minimum requirement of 259, ensuring sufficient parking for residents, visitors, and commercial patrons.
In addition, the site is conveniently served by Route #17, which connects to various parts of the city. While bicycle facilities fall slightly below the required number with 234 approved spaces against the required 250, the approved design includes designated bicycle spaces to support alternative transportation.
The Site Plan Approval Authority has been requested to incorporate additional approved design enhancements during the site plan process.
These include increased ground-floor glazing for improved passive surveillance, pedestrian connectivity within and around the site, a paratransit layby, a designated loading area for commercial uses, and direct pedestrian access to nearby open spaces and stormwater management facilities.
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