Planning Application Details

The application site and the surrounding gardens are identified in the North Moreton Conservation Area Study as important open space and it remains mostly open with only a few small detached outbuildings to the rear of some plots. The replacement of the simple, subservient outbuilding with a substantial dwelling would erode the character of this rural lane which contributes significantly to the rural character of North Moreton and would be out of keeping with the established pattern of development. The erection of a dwelling on this site would fail to preserve or better reveal the rural undeveloped nature of this part of the Conservation Area. Whilst development would constitute less than substantial harm to this designated historic asset, the harm would not be demonstrably outweighed by the public benefit of providing a single dwelling to the housing stock. The development is therefore contrary to saved Policies CON7 and H4 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011, to Policy CSEN3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2027 and to the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.

The rural setting of the village is one of its key attributes and provides a visual link with the wider North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This link with the surrounding countryside reinforces its sense of place and local identity. Whilst the proposed dwelling would not physically encroach into the surrounding open agricultural land to the north of the application site, given the open appearance of the site, it would visually encroach into this wider rural setting and would thus fail to conserve the special landscape character of the area. The development would also set an unwelcome precedent for similar residential development of the adjacent sites which would further erode the rural setting of the village. The development is therefore contrary to saved Policies G2, G4, C4, D1 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011, to Policy CSEN1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2027 and to the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.

The proposed dwelling features a deep plan form and truncated roof which attempts to keep the overall ridge height of the dwelling down and to disguise a large section of flat roof. The design of the dwelling does not follow local building traditions and fails to improve the character or quality of the area. The development would appear as an incongruous addition to this rural track and would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the locality contrary to saved Policies D1, G2, G4, H4 and CON7 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011, to Policies CSEN3 and CSQ3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2027 and to the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.

The replacement of the existing low-key outbuilding with a large detached dwelling would have an indirect impact on the setting of the neighbouring listed buildings which are enhanced by their rural setting which retains their historic character within a rural village settlement. The development is therefore contrary to saved Policy CON5 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011, to Policy CSEN3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2027 and to the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.