Planning Application Details

That the proposed extension of the specified area of land to be used for the playing and practising of golf would constitute an undesirable extension of the approved temporary recreation use at Greys Green Farm. The proposal would result in the further loss of agricultural landscape and the excessive extent of the enlarged 27 hole golf course would have an adverse dominating effect on the area. Thereby, the proposal would not serve to preserve or conserve the rural character of this part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and would be contrary to the general, environmental/ countryside and recreation policies of the approved Structure Plan for Oxfordshire (particularly policies EN4 and R3) and the Council's adopted Rural Areas Local Plan (particularly policies R11 and C7) and approved South Oxfordshire Local Plan (particularly policies R5 and C2). There is no overriding need or other justification for this additional land to be provided for the existing temporary 27 hole golf course that would outweigh the harm which would result from this proposal. That in a decision letter dated 7 February 1995 concerning various appeals in respect of golf at Greys Green Farm, including Appeal A (reference T/APP/C/Q3115/630552) against an enforcement notice and Appeal G (T/APP/Q3115/A/94/240330) against the Council's decision to refuse planning permission (P94/S0098) for a 27 hole golf course on a similar site to that now proposed, the Inspector dismissed Appeal G, allowed Appeal A, granted temporary planning permission (P93/S0538/DA) for a mixed use for agriculture and for the playing and practising of golf and commented, inter alia: "104. Schemes G, H and J not only involve an access from Henley Road and a car park out in the middle of the fields, they also move the centre of the golfing activity that much further into the deeper countryside represented by the central, southern and north-eastern parts of the farm. This will isolate areas to the west, such as Dog Field, or the southernmost 50 acres running down towards Church Lane, so that they will be difficult to work and become vulnerable to uses other than agriculture. This could mean that in the long term residents fears prove correct and more and more of the farm goes over to recreational use and the present "Dog Golf" concept is submerged in a larger scheme. These are two additional reasons why Appeals G and H should fail. 105. On Appeal A, the deemed planning application in respect of the enforcement notice, I consider the present layout and regime can meet the needs of the DGA and their concept of golf without the harmful alterations to the landscape identified in the 1991 Greys Green and Manor Farm appeals. It is also the maximum degree of recreational use which is consistent with the preservation and conservation of the character of the wider area, and the avoidance of the harmful effects from the traffic attracted to a larger scheme. In order for the use to remain acceptable it will need to be governed by conditions aimed at restricting the activity to its present limits. 106. The conditions which I consider will achieve this are as follows. Firstly, the golfing activity should be limited to the area now used, shown hatched on the enforcement notice plan, as amended. I see no justification on the basis of the present attendances and degree of interest for any more than 27 holes. Secondly I am conditioning the permission to run for 5 years, because before granting a permanent permission I would want to be satisfied that the "Dog Golf" concept is something that is likely to continue in its present popularity to satisfy the demand for informal rough golf which has been identified." and, in the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, similar considerations apply to the current proposal. There is considered to be no overriding need or other justification to vary the requirements of condition 2(i) of planning permission P93/S0538/DA and enlarge the extent of the land available for the playing and practising of golf that would outweigh the various concerns expressed by the Inspector in his decision letter.