Issue - meetings

Refused reasons to be set out in the minutes

The Committee considered application 18/00473/F for the development of a site to create 3 dwellings at Land to the North West Of Old Farm House Adjoining Orchard Piece, Mollington for Mr Richard Walker.

Councillor John Summers, Chairman to Mollington Parish Council, addressed the committee in objection to the application.

In reaching their decision, the committee considered the officers’ report, presentation and address of the public speaker.

Resolved

That application 18/00473/F be refused for the following reasons:

1.               In the absence of an assessment of its significance or any justification for its removal, the proposed development would cause significant harm to the significance of the curtilage listed outbuilding through its removal and demolition. This would cause less than substantial harm to the listed building and no public benefits would be provided. The proposal would therefore fail to comply with Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2031 Part 1, Saved Policy C18 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.               The proposed development would cause significant and demonstrable harm to an important undeveloped gap on Orchard Piece which contributes to the rural character of the conservation area and provides an important visual link to the open countryside to the south. The proposal would cause significant and demonstrable harm to the visual amenities of the locality and the appearance and character of the Mollington Conservation Area and would therefore fail to comply with Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 - 2031 Part 1, saved Policies C23, C28 and C33 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

3.               The access from which it is proposed to serve the development is substandard in vision terms and its use for the purpose proposed would result in a detriment to the safety of other road users.  The development would fail to provide a safe and suitable access and would cause a hazard and a detriment to highway safety, contrary to Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

4.               In the absence of an ecological survey, it has not been demonstrated that the proposed development would not cause potentially irreversible and significant harm and disturbance to protected species on the site, including Great Crested Newts and reptiles.  The development would therefore fail to comply with Policy ESD10 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011 – 2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.