Conditions / Refusal Reasons
That the development would be contrary to the provisions of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan which state that backland development will not normally be permitted (Policy H18). Proposals for the re-use of buildings in the countryside or on the edge of settlements may be considered favourably provided there are no amenity, environmental, highway or other specific objections and in the case of residential use, all other uses have been examined and found unacceptable in planning terms (Policy C11). In this case, the building lies in a prominent backland location on the edge of Cholsey, served by a narrow private access drive. The conversion to a dwelling (with associated works such as boundary definitions, improvements to the access and ancillary domestic structures which would inevitably follow) would result in an intrusive form of development which would detract from the character and visual amenity of the locality, cause inconvenience and difficulty for service and delivery vehicles and by reason of noise and general disturbance, result in an unneighbourly form of development. Given the age of the building and its location in the grounds of a large house, the Local Planning Authority are not satisfied that an appropriate alternative use does not exist.
That the use of the paddock area to the west of the building as residential curtilage would detract from the open, rural character of the area, which is of Great Landscape Value adjoining footpaths 3 and 4, and the visual amenity of the area, contrary to Policy H17 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan.
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