Planning Application Details

That the proposal would be contrary to the provisions of the adopted Rural Areas Local Plan 1992 and the approved South Oxfordshire Local Plan 1993 which allow infill development within the built up areas of villages provided that i) the character of the village is not adversely affected; ii) an important open space is not lost; iii) an important public view is not spoilt and; iv) there are no amenity, environmental or highway objections (RALP H4, SOLP H4 amd H5). Backland development, without a proper road frontage to a made up road, will not normally be permitted, because of the problems of privacy and access associated with such development (RALP H7, SOLP H18). The District Council will also seek to ensure that all development is of a high standard of design and is of a nature, scale, density and layout in keeping with the site and its surroundings (RALP G5, SOLP G8). In this case the site is not an infill site and the scale of development is out of keeping with the site and its immediate surroundings. The proposal represents a cramped and overintensive form of backland development which would harm the visual amenities and character of the immediate locality. In respect of an appeal against the decision of this Council to refuse outline planning permsision for one bungalow on the same site (ref. P93/W0342/O) the Inspector appointed to determine the appeal, dismissed the appeal and commented that "the proposed building and its uncomfortably close relationship with all these existing buildings (i.e. those surrounding the site) would give rise to a cramped appearance that would harm the visual amenities and character of the more immediate locality". In this case the siting and size of the proposed bungalow are similar to that of the scheme dismissed on appeal and the relationship with the surrounding buildings has not changed.