Planning Application Details

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) attaches great importance to Green Belts, and, as a general rule, development in the Green Belt is normally considered to be harmful to the openness of the land. The NPPF advises that a local planning authority should regard the construction of new buildings as inappropriate development in the green belt, unless very special circumstances exist to override the presumption against such development. The proposal does not conform to any of the exceptions set out in paragraphs 89 and 90 of the NPPF and is therefore considered to be inappropriate development. A fallback position, to demonstrate very special circumstances and to override the presumption against such development, has not been provided. On these grounds, the proposal for a new building on the site would be harmful to the openness of the Green Belt. The development is contrary to national planning policy, as directed by Section 9 of the National Planning Policy Framework, and conflicts with policy CSEN2 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and GB4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan, in being inappropriate development in the Green Belt.