Issue - meetings

Refused reasons to be set out in the minutes

The Committee considered application 18/00302/F for the conversion of an existing building to provide 15no. serviced apartments (use class C1) at The Oxfordshire Inn, Meadow Walk, Heathfield, Kidlington, OX5 3FG for Investfront Ltd.

Neil Davis, agent for the applicant, addressed the committee in support of the application.

In reaching their decision, the committee considered the officers’ report, presentation and written update.

Resolved

That application 18/00302/F be refused for the following reasons:

1.    The proposed development, by virtue of its use and scale, would lead to the creation of serviced apartments in a geographically and environmentally unsustainable location which is poorly located in related to services, facilities and public transport connections.  The proposal would not result in development which seeks to reduce the need to travel and fails to demonstrate a sequential approach to site selection.  The development is therefore contrary to Policy ESD1, SLE2 and SLE3 of the Cherwell Local Plan Part 1 (2015) and government guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework which seeks to manage growth in a sustainable manner and reduce the need to travel.

2.    The proposed development, by virtue of the creation of the new amenity space and bin and cycle stores, would constitute ‘inappropriate development’ in the Oxford Green Belt which is by definition harmful.  It would also result in harm to the openness of the Green Belt.   No very special circumstances exists which clearly outweigh this harm.   The development is therefore contrary to Policy ESD14 of the Cherwell Local Plan Part 1 (2015) and government guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework.

3.    The proposed development, by virtue of the siting, design and prominent position of the proposed bin store, would detrimentally impact on the rural character and appearance of the area.  The development is therefore contrary to Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan Part 1 (2015) and government guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework.

4.    The proposed development, by virtue of the proposed use of the building and relationship with the adjacent equestrian use to the north of the site, would result in unacceptable levels of amenity for future occupants of the serviced apartments and occupants/users of the adjacent equestrian use.   The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan Part 1 (2015) and government guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework.