Planning Application Details

That having regard to the size, bulk, massing and detailing of the proposed flats, to the extensive car parking area and to the location of the site adjacent to open, unspoilt semi rural land, the proposal would constitute an overdevelopment of a highly sensitive site and would appear unacceptably prominent and incongruous in the street scene. As such, the proposal would be contrary to policies G1, G8, C6 and H4 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan, policies G2, G6, C1 and H4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 Second deposit draft 2003 and advice in the South Oxfordshire Design Guide.

That having regard to the size, bulk, massing and detailing of the proposed flats, to the extensive car parking area and to the sensitive location of the site within the Thame Conservation Area and in close proximity to a number of listed buildings, the proposal would appear out of keeping with the character of surrounding development, would neither preserve nor enhance the character and appearance of the Thame Conservation Area and would detract from the open, spacious setting of the grade 11* listed Tithe Barn, the grade 11* listed Prebendal and the grade 1 listed Church. In this way the proposal would be contrary to policies CON 7 and CON 10 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan, policies CON 7 and CON 10 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 second deposit draft 2003 and advice contained in PPG 15 - Planning and the Historic Environment.

That having regard to the proximity of the proposed new flats to neighbouring residential dwellings, and in particular having regard to the first floor windows overlooking numbers 7 and 8 Church Road and number 55 High Street, it is considered that the proposal would be unacceptably unneighbourly in terms of overlooking of adjacent garden areas detracting from the standard of residential amenity enjoyed by the occupiers of these properties. As such the proposal would be contrary to policies G1 and H4 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan and policies G2 and H4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 second deposit draft 2003.