Planning Application Details

That the development is contrary to policies of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan, the Central Oxfordshire Local Plan and the South Oxfordshire Local Plan, in that the site is within the Green Belt wherein there is a general presumption against new development apart from that which is essential for the needs of agriculture or forestry and wherein the impact of proposals on the open nature, rural character and visual amenity of the Green Belt will be minimised. There is no essential need for this development in this location and there is no overriding need for the retention of this modern building in the countryside. That the development is contrary to the environmental and employment policies of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan, policies GB1, C5, CON15 and E2 of the Central Oxfordshire Local Plan and policies GB2, C3, C11 and E6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan in that the site occupies an isolated position in open and attractive countryside, the site is not allocated for B1 (business) purposes, the building has no visual value in the landscape and there are no exceptional circumstances to justify the introduction of a business use in this isolated rural location, contrary to the above policies. The proposal is, thereby, also contrary to guidance given by Central Government in P.P.G.2. That the establishment of a business use in this isolated location outside any village would detract from the rural character and amenity of this locality which lies in an Area of Great Landscape Value and the Oxford Green Belt. Furthermore, the development creates an undesirable precedent for further expansion of commercial uses into similar buildings on similar sites in the locality.