Planning Application Details

The application site lies beyond the edge of the village of Woodcote where there is a general presumption against new housing development with regard to Policy H6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011. However, the principle of the conversion of the existing rural building to a residential use may be acceptable provided that all of the relevant criteria of Policy E8 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 are complied with. In relation to Criterion (vii) of Policy E8, insufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate that non-residential uses of the building have been fully explored and found to be unacceptable in planning terms. As such the proposal would be contrary to Policies G2 and E8 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and advice set out in PPS7.

The application fails to demonstrate that the proposed development would not be harmful to species that are protected by British and European legislation or the ecological value of the site in general. As such it would be contrary to South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 Policies G2, C6, C8 and E8 and advice contained in Government Guidance in PPS1, PPS3 and PPS9.