Planning Application Details

The proposed development is of a suburban form and layout that is out of scale and keeping with the historic character of this part of the Dorchester Conservation Area. It fails to promote local distinctiveness and would detract significantly from the character and appearance of the area and the setting of nearby listed buildings. As such the proposal would be contrary to Policies G2, G6, D1, CON7, CON10, H5 (H4 criteria) of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan, the advice contained in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 'Housing' and the advice contained in the South Oxfordshire Design Guide.

The proposal would be contrary to Policy E6 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan. Policy E6 aims to retain buildings and land in employment use, unless the existing use is not viable or giving rise to nuisance, to ensure that communities can provide employment opportunities for local residents and be sustainable. The site is currently in use as a workshop without giving rise to nuisance and no evidence has been submitted that the site is not viable or has been marketed for other alternative employment uses. The proposed alternative use for residential development is inappropriate by definition and there are no very special circumstances to justify granting planning permission.

That notwithstanding the objection in principle the proposal fails to provide an adequate range of dwelling type and size to meet the identified housing need in the District, contrary to Policy H7 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan.

That, having regard to the location of unit 1, in the long term there is likely to be pressure from residents of unit 1 for the removal or reduction of the Sophora Japonica tree, which lies outside the site in Crown Lane, because of its positioning relation to the private rear garden area. Its loss would detract from the character of the area. As such, the proposal would be contrary to Policies G2 and C9 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan.

That having regard to the siting of the proposed dwellings in relation to that of surrounding buildings, the proposal would result in unneighbourly overlooking that would detract from the residential amenity of occupants of 9 and 9A Queen Street and 34 and 36 High Street. As such the proposal would be contrary to Policies G2 and H5 (H4 Criteria) of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan.

There is insufficient information submitted with the application to show how foundations and services would be designed in a way that would not have an impact on nationally important archaeological remains within the part of the site that is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. As such the proposal would be contrary to Policies CON11 and CON13 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan.