Conditions / Refusal Reasons
That the development would be contrary to Policy TC4 of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan 2011 and to Government advice contained in PPG6 (Town Centres and Retail Development) and PPG13 (Transport) which seek to sustain the vitality and viability of town centres and to locate development in areas easily accessible by means of transport other than the car. In particular, leisure uses which attract a lot of visitors should only be developed in out of centre locations if there is a clearly defined need which cannot be met in or on the edge of existing centres. In this case insufficient evidence has been submitted of a need for a facility of the size proposed within a local centre, or of the unavailability of land within the centre of Didcot. There is no justification therefore for permitting a development which could undermine the viability and vitality of Didcot Town Centre contrary to Policy S1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan and generate increased car traffic.
That, having regard to the size, bulk and massing of the proposed building, relative to the size of the site and to the adjoining buildings, the proposals would result in a cramped and intrusive form of development which would detract from the character and visual amenity of the locality, contrary to Policy G8 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan.
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