Conditions / Refusal Reasons
That the erection of 10 houses on land which lies outside the built-up
confines of Whitchurch-on-Thames would constitute a large and
undesirable extension of development into the open land which is integral
to the landscape setting of Whitchurch-on-Thames and, as such, would
detract from the rural character and visual amenity of the area which
lies within the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The
development would, therefore, be contrary to the provisions of the
approved Oxfordshire Structure Plan, particularly policies G1, EN1, EN4,
H1, RUR3 and RUR4, and the Council's adopted South Oxfordshire Local
Plan, particularly policies G1, G5, C2, C6, H6 and H8. There is no
overriding justification to warrant any departure from the planning
policies of the Local Planning Authority.
That circumstances remain largely unchanged since the Inspector in
dismissing two appeals in 1982 (T/APP/5355/A/80/14725/G2 and
T/APP/5355/A/81/12860/G2) against the Local Planning Authority's
decision to refuse planning permission (applications P80/S0408/O and
P81/S0127/O) for two dwellings on land fronting Eastfield Lane considered
that:
"In my opinion the question of where the eastern boundary of the
village should be drawn is not easy to resolve, and I have no doubt
that for different purposes different lines would be drawn. For the
purposes of development control, I consider that, in general, it would
not be correct to include in village boundaries all the loose scatter
of buildings that exist around the fringes of most settlements,
especially where significant amounts of open space occur between the
buildings. In this case the Local Planning Authority are acting
reasonably in drawing the boundary as close to the core of the village
as possible. The eastern limit of the Swanston Field estate seems to
me to be the edge of this central core between Hardwick Road and
Eastfield Lane" (Para 10).
and there is no justification for setting aside the Inspector's view
on the eastern extent of the built-up area of Whitchurch-on-Thames.
That the proposal would result in irreversible development and the loss
of Grade 2 agricultural land and, as such, the development would be
contrary to the provisions of the approved Oxfordshire Structure Plan,
particularly policy EN2, the Council's adopted South Oxfordshire Local
Plan, particularly policy C7, and Government advice provided in PPG7,
particularly paragraphs 2.16, 2.17 and 2.18.
That having regard to the close proximity of the proposed access and
service road on Hardwick Road to Bear Cottage and Wakeley, the use of
this road by vehicular traffic would constitute an intrusive and
unneighbourly form of development which would detract from the residential
amenity of occupiers of those properties, particularly by reason of noise
and disturbance. The proposal would, therefore, be contrary to the
provisions of the Council's adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan,
particularly policy H18.
That the increase in traffic created by the proposed development would
be detrimental to the safety, amenity and convenience of the residents
and users of Eastfield Lane and Hardwick Road, and that the increase in
traffic in the vicinity of the site, where the existing road pattern is
inadequate to serve the additional development, particularly the
junctions of Hardwick Road and Eastfield Lane with the High Street,
would be detrimental to the safety and convenience of users of the
highway, particularly pedestrians. The proposal would, therefore, be
contrary to the provisions of the Council's adopted South Oxfordshire
Local Plan, particularly policy G10.
That the siting of the garage at the front of plot 6 and the parking and
turning areas at the front of the elderly persons' accommodation would
be visually intrusive in the street scene and out of keeping with the
character of the area. As such, the development would be contrary to
the provisions of the Council's adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan,
particularly policy G8.
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