Planning Application Details

Policy CSR1 of South Oxfordshire Core Strategy allows for infill development in the smaller villages subject to the criteria of saved policy H4 of the Development Plan. South Stoke is identified as a smaller village where infill development is permitted up on sites of up to 0.2ha in area. Infill development is defined as 'the filling of a small gap in an otherwise built up frontage or on other sites within settlements where the site is closely surrounded by buildings'. The site covers an area of 2.8ha and does not fall within the definition of an infill plot. It is not closely surrounded by buildings to the north, south or east and does not infill a gap within a built-up frontage. The proposal is tantamount to the construction of a new dwelling given the level of works required and the creation of one additional residential unit on the plot would extend the built-up area of the settlement into the surrounding countryside. The proposal is contrary to saved policy CSR1 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and saved policy H4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan.

The National Planning Policy Framework, Section 10: Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change, requires development to be directed away from areas which are susceptible to a high risk of flooding. Where development is appropriate and necessary it should avoid increasing flood risk elsewhere. The information provided does not sufficiently demonstrate that the development will not be at risk to flooding, and no measures have been incorporated to address the impact of flooding. The proposal presents a change of use that creates a more vulnerable use of the site, and does not effectively provide a safe route from the site in the event of flooding. The increase in footprint displaces an amount of water that would adversely affect flood plain storage capacity in the event of flooding. The development conflicts with national policy set out in section 10 of the National Planning Policy Framework and the National Planning Policy Framework Planning Practice Guidance.