Conditions / Refusal Reasons
The application site lies within the countryside and the principle of new housing on the site is not acceptable. There are no material considerations of sufficient weight, that would outweigh the provisions of the development plan. Therefore, the proposal is contrary to Policies STRAT1, and H1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and with the aims of the NPPF.
The existing site forms part of the green edge to the north of the settlement inside of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The development of this site for housing would introduce domestic paraphernalia, noise and artificial light into the landscape of the AONB leading to a loss of tranquillity and would go no way to conserve nor enhance rural landscape character of this part of the Chilterns AONB. Due to its design, layout, and scale the proposed development would fail to respect the existing open and undeveloped character of the site and the contribution it makes to the rural character and appearance of the surrounding countryside. Therefore, the proposal is contrary to Policies STRAT1, ENV1, DES1 and DES2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035, and the NPPF.
There are a number of mature trees and hedges on and adjacent to the site, which collectively provide a positive contribution to the character of the area, rural nature of the site and the wider Chilterns AONB. The application is not supported by any tree survey, Arboricultural Impact Assessment or tree protection details. As such, there is insufficient information to demonstrate the proposed development could be achieved while protecting or enhancing trees of importance to the landscape setting of the site and surrounding countryside inside of the Chilterns AONB. Therefore, the proposal is contrary to Policies STRAT1, ENV1, DES1 and DES2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035, and the NPPF.
There is insufficient information to demonstrate that the development can be implemented without a risk to Highway Safety and to other users of the Highway within the vicinity. Therefore, the proposal is contrary to Policy TRANS5 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.
The site proposed for development has the potential to support protected species such as nesting birds, bats and reptiles. Insufficient information has been provided in the form of reptile surveys, any planned mitigation measures or a net gain calculation, using the DEFRA 3.1 metric, able to demonstrate how the proposal might be implemented without harm to protected species and their habitats, and achieve the required net gain in biodiversity. Therefore, the proposal is contrary to Policies STRAT1, ENV2 and ENV3 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035, and the NPPF.
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