Conditions / Refusal Reasons
The Development Plan identifies appropriate locations for new residential development within the District. Policy H5 of the Development Plan states that strict infill development within the smaller villages within the District maybe acceptable subject to the criteria specified in Policy H4. In this case the site lies within the Aston Upthorpe Conservation Area which is characterised by areas of open paddock, it also lies within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The proposal to erect a large detached house of the scale and sub-urban character proposed on open land that was previously associated with the adjacent stables, would involve the levelling of the frontage of the site and would fill an important gap in the village detracting from the rural character and appearance of the conservation area and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The proposal would also detract from the character and setting of the adjacent listed building, Lauristinus. As such, the proposal would be contrary to Policies G1, G8, C2, CON7, CON8, CON10 and H5 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan, Policies G2, G5, G6, C2, C4 and H5 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 Second Deposit (Draft) and the advice contained within Sections 3.1 and 4.4 of the approved South Oxfordshire Design Guide.
The proposal involves the provision of a new access point behind an existing high wall where vision in both directions would be severely limited. Introducing vehicular movements at this point without special justification or improvements to the vision splay would be detrimental to the safety and convenience of users of the public highway. As such the proposal would be contrary to Policies G1, G10 and H5 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan and Policies G2, T1 and H5 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan Second Deposit (Draft).
The land levels vary considerably across the site and the information accompanying the application is insufficient to assess accurately how the development will relate to the level of the road, the surrounding buildings and the character of the area in general. Such a proposal would be contrary to Policies G1, C2, CON8 and CON10 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan and Policies G2, C2 and CON10 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 Second Deposit (Draft).
(Show Map - opens in new window)
