Conditions / Refusal Reasons
Within the built-up area of villages, housing policies permit strict
infill development defined as the filling of a small gap in an
otherwise built-up frontage with one or two dwellings, providing
amongst other things, the character of the village is not adversely
affected, an important space is not lost and an important view is
not spoilt (policy H4 of the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan). The
proposals do not comply with the above criteria because the character
of the area is not one of a built-up frontage, and the development
of the site would not constitute acceptable infilling. The site lies
within an area characterised by loose knit development and the proposals
to erect a house and garage would result in the loss of an important
open space which would detract from the spacious character of the
area and would also detract from important views of the Church.
The site lies within the Sydenham Conservation Area and adjacent to
several listed buildings. Conservation policies set out in the adopted
South Oxfordshire Local Plan require that the character of individual
Conservation Area is preserved or enhanced, and also state that
proposals which would adversely affect the setting of a listed
building would normally be refused (policies CON7 and CON10 of the
adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan). The proposals do not comply
with the above criteria because the development would detract from the
loose knit character and involve the loss of an important open space
in this part of the Conservation Area. The site lies in close
proximity to several important listed buildings and the development
of the site would detract from the setting of those buildings.
In dismissing an appeal against the refusal of planning permission
for the erection of a dwelling on the site, application reference
P93/N0637, the inspector appointed to determine the appeal stated:-
"6. The situation of the appeal site in relation to the remainder of
the village is such that it can by no stretch of the imagination be
described as an infill site in the terms set out in the Rural
Areas Local Plan. This is because there is no built-up frontage
of development along the north side of the road at this point.
Further, a new dwelling on the site would not be well-related
to the existing pattern of development, and would be an intrusive
new feature both in the Conservation Area in general and in the
setting of the church in particular. Because of the bend in the
main road at this point, a new building here would be the most
prominent feature in the centre of the village from some viewpoints,
and it would be particularly intrusive in views of the church from
the south. No criticism whatsoever is intended of the design
of the proposed house, but any dwelling must necessarily be larger
and more intrusive than the small timber building currently
occupying the site, and must therefore have a much great visual
impact."
It is considered that the same considerations apply to the current
proposals.
That the development would be likely to lead to the loss of a mature
horse chestnut tree (situated to the north west of the proposed
dwelling) which is of considerable amenity importance in the Sydenham
Conservation Area. The development is, therefore, contrary to
policy C16 in the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan.
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