Planning Application Details

That the proposal would be contrary to policy G4 of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan and policy GB2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan. 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. It is considered there is insufficient justification to warrant any departure from these Green Belt policies. That the proposal would be contrary to the general, environmental and housing policies of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan (policies G1, G2, EN1, EN4 and H1) and the South Oxfordshire Local Plan (policies G1, G8, C3 and H5). The site does not constitute strict infill development, that is the erection of one or two dwellings on a small gap in an otherwise built-up frontage. Its development by the erection of six dwellings would consolidate the existing scatter of development and be out of keeping with and detract from the spacious character of the area, which is designated an Area of Great Landscape Value. That the development would be contrary to Central Government advice set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 - Green Belts which states that there is a general presumption against inappropriate development within the Green Belt except for the needs of agriculture, forestry, outdoor sport, cemeteries and other uses of land which preserve the openness of the area. The proposal does not constitute limited infilling and it therefore comprises inappropriate development that is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt. No exceptional circumstances have been put forward that would warrant overriding this Government Guidance. That the proposal would be contrary to policies CON7, CON8 and CON10 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan and policy EN8 of the Oxfordshire Structure Plan. It is considered that the erection of six dwellings on this prominent site would neither preserve nor enhance the character of the Stanton St John Conservation Area and would detract from the setting of St John the Baptist Church, which is a Grade I listed building.