Planning Application Details

The application site falls outside the built-up limits of a settlement and the proposal would therefore represent an unsustainable form of development that is contrary to the Council's overall strategy for development. The proposed development would encroach into the countryside and detract from the undeveloped, open and rural character and appearance of the site and its surroundings. The proposal would be incongruous, would result in the loss of an important open gap and would have an urbanising impact that would fundamentally and harmfully change the rural character of the site and the surrounding area and would fail to conserve the landscape setting of Peppard Common and Rotherfield Peppard and the landscape and scenic beauty of this part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As such the proposal is contrary to policies STRAT1, H1 and ENV1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

The development proposals would result in a net loss of outdoor recreation facilities with alternative facilities, of no better quality than existing provided in a less accessible location, proposed. Where the Sports Needs Assessment submitted as part of this application and consultation responses from the County Football Association and the Football Foundation, via representations made by Sport England, identify an existing need for such facilities in the area, the proposal fails to comply with Paragraphs 98 to 103 of the NPPF, policies STRAT1, CF1, CF2, CF3 and CF4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and technical guidance set out in South Oxfordshire District Council's Playing Pitch Strategy and Sport England's Playing Fields Policy and Guidance document which seek to protect existing outdoor sports and recreation facilities.