Issue - meetings

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

The Committee considered application 22/02866/OUT, an outline planning application for up to 120 dwellings, vehicular and pedestrian access off Ploughley Road, new pedestrian access to West Hawthorn Road, surface water drainage, foul water drainage, landscaping, public open space, biodiversity and associated infrastructure.  Access off Ploughley Road is not reserved for future consideration at Land East of Ploughley Road, Ambrosden for Archstone Ambrosden Ltd, Bellway Homes Ltd and Rosemary May.

Councillors Pruden and Sames addressed the Committee as Local Ward Members.

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

David Bainbridge, Agent to the applicant, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

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

Resolved

That application 22/02866/OUT be refused, in line with 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. Its development would therefore have an adverse effect on the landscape on the approach to Ambrosden 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, PSD1 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.