Conditions / Refusal Reasons
That the development has not been justified on the basis of an agricultural need and is therefore contrary to the overall strategy referred to in policy CSS1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2012; and the provisions of policy A1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011.
That the site lies within the Oxford Green Belt, where there is a general presumption against inappropriate development in order to conserve the special and historic character of the city and to preserve the countryside outside it. In the circumstances of the present case, the applicant has failed to justify the retention of the hardstanding on the basis of an agricultural need. The retention of the hardstanding to facilitate an outside, non-agricultural use of the land would be contrary to the openness of the Green Belt and would conflict with the fundamental purposes of including land within the Green Belt, namely: to check unrestricted sprawl; and to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. The hardstanding therefore constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt. Very special circumstances do not exist that would outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness or any other harm. The development is therefore contrary to policy GB4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011; policy CSEN2 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2012; and government guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework relating to the protection of the Green Belt.
The applicant has failed to justify the retention of the hardstanding on the basis of an agricultural need. It therefore represents an unnecessary and invasive encroachment of development into a previously unspoiled rural landscape, contrary to policies G2, G4, C4 and D1 of the South Oxforshire Local Plan 2011; policies CSEN1 and CSQ3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2012; and government guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework relating to the protection of valued landscapes, local character and distinctiveness.
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