Planning Application Details

The proposal would result in new residential development in the countryside, outside of the built confines of any settlement. As such the proposal would be contrary to the overall spatial strategy of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy which seeks to provide a strong network of settlements by focusing development in the higher tier settlements, with limited amounts of housing development within villages. Outside of these settlements development is to be limited to specific needs such as those of the agricultural industry or the enhancement of the environment. By reason of location, separation distance and poor connections between the proposal site and the settlement of Stadhampton, occupants would be overly reliant on private transport to reach basic facilities and services leading to a lack of social cohesion and unsustainable modes of transportation. The proposed development is in an unsustainable and inaccessible location and is contrary to the spatial strategy. 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, CSR1 and CSM1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and saved policy T1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011.

The proposed development would be sited in an unacceptable countryside location and the change of use of the land and the introduction of built development would have an urbanising impact on the site, over and above the existing use. This would directly affect the intrinsic character of the site and surroundings and as such the proposal would have an adverse impact on the rural character and visual amenities of this area of the countryside and be contrary to policy CSEN1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and policies C4, G2 and G4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

The proposal would result in the loss of a traveller site which was granted planning permission on the basis that there there was an established need that could not be met on existing sites. At this time the Council cannot demonstrate an adequate five-year supply for gypsy / traveller sites. The loss of this traveller site would be contrary to Policy CSH5 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy which safeguards existing sites in order to provide a supply of pitches for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

The proposal fails to secure the delivery of affordable housing to meet the needs of the District with regard to both tenure mix and affordable housing size. As such, the development would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework and Policy CSH3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy.

The proposal fails to provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the mix of market housing proposed would be in accordance Policy CSH4 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy which is informed by the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2014).

The proposal fails to provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the proposed access to the site is acceptable and would not have an adverse impact on highway safety. In addition the proposal fails to provide an acceptable and safe means of pedestrian access to the site, to the detriment of pedestrian and highway safety. As such the development would be contrary to Policy CSM1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and saved Policy T1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan.

The proposal fails to provide sufficient information, in the form of a tree survey or arboricultural impact assessment in accordance with BS 5837:2012, to demonstrate that the proposal would be compliant with Policy CSEN1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and saved Policy C9 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011.

The proposals fails to provide sufficient information, in the form of a biodiversity impact calculator assessment, to demonstrate that the proposal would be compliant with Policy CSB1 of South Oxfordshire Core Strategy in achieving a no net-loss of biodiversity on site.

The submitted application details have failed to (i) provide a flood risk assessment (ii) provide mitigation against pluvial flood risk at the site and (iii) demonstrate that a surface water drainage strategy could be implemented for the site to mitigate any adverse effects from surface water run-off and flooding on people and property in the local area. The proposed development is therefore contrary to saved Policy EP6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

In the absence of a completed Section 106 legal agreement, the proposal fails to secure infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of the development. As such, the development would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, policy CSI1 and CSM2 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and saved policies T1, D10, D12, R2 and R6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011.