Conditions / Refusal Reasons
That the development would conflict with the provisions of the approved
Oxfordshire Structure Plan (OSP) and the adopted South Oxfordshire
Local Plan (SOLP) which seek to restrain the overall level of develop-
ment, with the Country Towns the preferred locations for new development
(OSP Policy G1; SOLP Policy G1). Except on specifically allocated
sites, development should take place within existing settlements and
will not normally be permitted in open countryside (OSP Policy EN7;
SOLP Policies G5, H6). The Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty will be
protected from harmful developments and development will be kept to a
minimum and restricted to proposals where there is an inherent and
justifiable local need which cannot be met outside the AONB (OSP Policies
EN1, EN4; SOLP Policies C1, C2). In determining applications for
proposals adjoining the River Thames, the foremost concern will be the
maintenance of the character of the area and the natural state of the
River (SOLP Policies C4, C5). The proposals are for the erection of a
large, visually undistinguished building, residential unit and
associated facilities in attractive open countryside which lies within
the Chilterns AONB adjoining the River Thames and two long distance
footpaths, which would detract from the character and rural appearance
of the locality, lead to irrevocable damage to the 'natural' bank of
the river and would transform the quiet, rural character and landscape
of this part of the River Thames. The LPA are not satisfied that a
sufficient need has been demonstrated to justify overriding the Policy
objections to the development.
That the proposed access lacks adequate visibility and would result in
additional turning movements on a busy and fast section of an 'A' class
road which would be detrimental to the safety and convenience of other
users of the highway contrary to Policy G10 of the adopted South
Oxfordshire Local Plan.
That the site lies within an area liable to flood. The development will
therefore be at direct risk of flooding and by taking flood storage
capacity, increase the risk of flooding elsewhere, contrary to
Policy G16 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan.
The site lies in an area of potentially extensive and important
archaeological interest. The proposals do not include the results of
an archaeological field evaluation which would enable an informed and
reasoned decision to be made about the effects of the development on
archaeological remains in accordance with Government advice (Planning
Policy Guidance Note 16: Archaeology and Planning) and policies of the
approved Structure Plan (EN3) and South Oxfordshire Local Plan (CON17).
The development could therefore adversely affect a site of major
archaeological importance, contrary to Policy EN3 of OSP and CON16 of
SOLP.
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