Issue - meetings

Refused, against officer recommendation. Reasons to be set out in the minutes.

The Committee considered application 22/02455/OUT, an outline application for the erection of up to 55 new dwellings including affordable homes; formation of new pedestrian access; formation of new vehicular access from Blackthorn Road; landscaping and associated works at Land West Of Church Ley Field Adjacent To Blackthorn Road, Ambrosden for L&Q Estates.

Dawn Seaward, Chair of Ambrosden Parish Council, addressed the Committee in objection to the application.

Stuart Field, on behalf of the applicant, L&Q Estates, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

In reaching its decision the Committee considered the officers’ report, presentation, and addresses from the public speakers.

Resolved

That application 22/02455/OUT be refused, contrary to the officer’s recommendation, for the following reasons:

1.            The site is located outside the built form of Ambrosden and within an area of open countryside. By reason of its location and the proposed scale of development, the proposal would have a poor and incongruous relationship with the existing settlement appearing prominent in the open countryside. The development would therefore have an adverse effect on the landscape to the detriment of the character and appearance of the countryside. In addition, the Council is able to demonstrate a 5.4- year housing land supply, and therefore the housing strategies in the Local Plan are up to date. It is considered that the development of this site would conflict with the adopted policies in the Local Plan to which substantial weight should be attached. The proposed development is therefore contrary to Policies ESD13, ESD15, BSC1, and Villages 2 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1, saved Policy H18 of Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.            In the absence of a satisfactory unilateral undertaking or any other form of Section 106 legal agreement the Local Planning Authority is not satisfied that the proposed development provides for appropriate infrastructure contributions required as a result of the development and necessary to make the impacts of the development acceptable in planning terms, to the detriment of both existing and proposed residents and workers and contrary to Policy INF1 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1, CDC’s Planning Obligations SPD 2018 and Government guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework.