Planning Application Details

The proposed development would be contrary to the provisions of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan which seeks to restrain development outside the country towns; to protect the environment from potentially harmful development (EN1); and to restrict development in the Green Belt to agricultural, forestry or recreational purposes only (EN5). The proposal to erect stables is a commercial proposal designated to create an equestrian business. The proposal is not, therefore designed for any appropriate Green Belt purposes, and there is no evidence of any overriding need which would justify a departure from the planning policies of the Local Planning Authority. The proposed development would be contrary to the provisions of the adopted Central Oxfordshire Local Plan and the approved South Oxfordshire Local Plan, which seek to restrain overall levels of development (COLP G1, SOLP G3), particularly in the Green Belt where there is a general presumption against new development unless required for agricultural, forestry or outdoor sport purposes (COLP GB1; SOLP GB2). The proposal to erect stables to create an equestrian business is not an appropriate development within the Green Belt, and the proposal would result in an undesirable intensificaiton of the existing sporadic development outside the main confines of Wheatley which would detract from the open character and rural nature of the Green Belt.