Conditions / Refusal Reasons
The proposal site lies outside of the built confines of Stadhampton, in a rural, isolated location and would not meet the definition of infill development. By reason of the separation distance between the proposal site and the built area of any settlement, as well as poor connectivity, occupants would be overly reliant on private transport to reach basic facilities and services. Significant weight is afforded to this lack of social cohesion and the development would only make a very minimal contribution to the councils housing supply .The harm of the proposal, in respect of being in an unsustainable and inaccessible location, undermines the spatial strategy. This by far outweighs any benefit. As such, the principle of residential development is contrary to the fundamental aims of the National Planning Policy Framework and core policies; and policies CS1, CSS1 and CSR1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy.
The proposed dwelling would not provide future occupants with a safe and convenient access to the highway network or access to public transport. The serving highway is a busy classified road, with no pavement or street lighting. These characteristics will severely limit pedestrian accessibility to the nearest settlement and services. This deficiency associated with the poor access serves to highlight the unsustainable location for the development. As such, the development is contrary to the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework and conflicts with saved policy T1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan.