Planning Application Details

The proposed development seeks to retain an unauthorised building and hardstanding for the purposes of agriculture. The unauthorised building is not suitable to be converted to an agricultural building and as the land is not in any agricultural production or use at this time there is currently no evidence of an essential requirement or justification for an agricultural building on the land. As such the proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt which would be harmful to the openness of the Green Belt and contrary to the purposes of including the land within the Green Belt. No very special circumstances have been presented which outweigh the harm to the Green Belt. The proposed development which seeks to retain unauthorised development is therefore contrary to policies STRAT 1 and STRAT6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035; and government guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework aimed at protecting the openness and character of the Green Belt.

The proposed development seeks to retain an unauthorised building and hardstanding for the purposes of agriculture. The unauthorised building is not suitable to be converted to an agricultural building and as the land is not in any agricultural production or use at this time there is currently no evidence of an essential requirement or justification for an agricultural building on the land. As such the proposal represents an encroachment of built form into the countryside which would detract from the rural and undeveloped character of the area and adversely impact on the visual appearance of the landscape. This is contrary to policies STRAT1, EMP10, DES1, DES2 and ENV1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035; and government guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework aimed at protecting valued landscapes, local character and identity.

The built development is located within 10 metres of the Hollow Brook watercourse. The encroachment of built development into the 10 metre riparian zone of the watercourse degrades the ecological functionality and value of the watercourse, a priority habitat. No metric assessment has been submitted to support this application and the development has likely resulted in a net loss of biodiversity. No suitably detailed information has been submitted to quantify or address any net loss. The proposal is therefore contrary to policies ENV2, ENV3 and ENV4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan and Paragraphs 179 and 180 of the NPPF.