Planning Application Details

That the site lies within the Oxford Green Belt, where there is a general presumption against new development in order to conserve the special and historic character of the City and to preserve the countryside outside it. The proposal represents inappropriate development within the Green Belt and a robust argument setting out the very special circumstances that exist to overcome the harm to the openness and visual amenity of the Green Belt by reason of its inappropriateness has not been demonstrated. The development is therefore contrary to Policy CSEN2 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2027, Policy GB4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and to the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.

That the piecemeal development of the site and proliferation of buildings within close proximity to the entrance of the Grade I registered park together with the inappropriate, domestic design of the building would result in less than substantial harm to the significance of the Registered Park and Garden. This harm would not be outweighed by the wider public benefits of providing the building which could be achieved more sensitively with revisions to the design. The development is therefore contrary to Policy CSEN3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2027, Policy CON15 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and to the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.