Description
Change of use of land and building from agriculture to equestrian sport and recreation. Construction of cross country course, dressage areas and show jumping area. Formation of earth mound adjacent to public footpath.
Conditions / Refusal Reasons
That the proposal would be contrary to policy EN5 of the Oxfordshire
Structure Plan, policy G4 of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan (Deposit
Draft) policies GB2, GB3 and GB4 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local
Plan and Government advice in PPG2 - Green Belts. The site lies within
the Oxford Green Belt wherein there is a general presumption against
new development apart from that which is essential for the needs of
agriculture, forestry and recreation or some other purpose appropriate
to the Green Belt. In addition, where new development is permitted in
the Green Belt it should be sited and designed to ensure its impact on
the open rural character and visual amenity of the Green Belt is
minimised. It is considered that the proposed equestrian use of the
site would result in both the proliferation of structures and facilities
essentially required for the use, and a considerable number of vehicles
visiting and parking on the site. This would be visually intrusive in
the open countryside and detract from the rural nature and visual
amenity of the Oxford Green Belt.
That the proposal would be contrary to policies G1, EN1, EN4 of the
Oxfordshire Structure Plan, policies G1, G2, G5 EN1 and EN5 of the
Oxfordshire Structure Plan (deposit draft) and policies G1, G5, C1, C3
and C9 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan. The site lies in
attractive open countryside beyond the confines of any settlement and
within an Area of Great Landscape Value. Having regard to the nature
of the works required to effect the change of use, it is considered
that the development would result in inappropriate changes to the rural
landscape and be detrimental to the visual amenity of the locality.
Furthermore, should an equestrian use become established on the site,
pressure for further changes and a more intensive use of the site would
be difficult to resist resulting in further unacceptable changes to the
landscape and increased traffic, noise and disturbance.
That the use of the existing building on the site for purposes in
connection with the proposed equestrian use would be contrary to
policy C10 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan and Government advice
in PPG2 - Green Belts. The building is a modern agricultural barn and it
is considered that its form, bulk and general design are not in keeping
with its attractive rural surroundings.
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