Planning Application Details

The Development Plan and the NPPF identify appropriate locations for new development. New Buildings within the Green Belt will not be allowed unless the development falls within strictly defined criteria. Nuneham Courtney is one of the smaller villages in the district where infill development on sites of up to 0.2 hectares or on sites that are closely surrounded by other buildings may be allowed within the built up limits of the village. In this case, the site lies on the edge of an existing ribbon of development within the Oxford Green Belt and the part of the site proposed for housing does not fall within the definition of previously developed land. It would not be considered as an appropriate location for new residential development. The provision of new dwellings on this site would consolidate existing ribbon development and would have a greater impact on openness than the current use. Development of this nature would detract from the landscape setting of Nuneham Courtney and the openness of the Green Belt which would be inappropriate development as defined in the National Planning Policy framework (NPPF). The special circumstances put forward do not demonstrate that the harm by reason of inappropriateness is outweighed by other considerations. As such the proposal would be contrary to advice contained in the NPPF and to policies CS1, CSS1, CSR1 and CSEN2 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and saved policies G2, G4, C4 and GB4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan.

The proposed barn style dwellings will have a greater visual impact on the character of the landscape setting of the settlement by encroaching further north and west on the site, sitting at the very top of the rise to the north of the village and extending the visual impact of the built form from all approaches. Development here would also have a negative impact on the setting of the former Smithy and the Cockadoo Restaurant within the historic Public House opposite the site. Both buildings are grade II listed in their own right and have considerable value in the designed group of buildings within the village. The development would harm the significance and group value of the designed village as well as causing harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area and the setting of the listed buildings. As such the proposal is contrary to advice contained in the NPPF and policies CSEN3 and CSQ3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and saved policies G2, CON5 and CON7

The scheme fails to provide any affordable housing to meet the local need contrary to Policy CSH3 of the emerging South Oxfordshire Core Strategy 2027.

Insufficient information has been submitted with the application to demonstrate that this part of the site is not contaminated contrary to saved Policy EP1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan.