Issue - meetings

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

The Committee considered application 23/03428/OUT, an outline planning application for the construction of up to 140,000 sqm of employment floorspace (use class B8) with ancillary offices and facilities and servicing and infrastructure including new site accesses, internal roads and footpaths, landscaping including earthworks to create development platforms and bunds, drainage features and other associated works including demolition of the existing farmhouse at OS Parcel 7921 South Of Huscote Farm And North West Of County Boundary Daventry Road Banbury for Greystoke CB.

Rob Kinchin-Smith, on behalf of Banbury Civic Society, CPRE Oxfordshire and Farthinghoe Parish Council, addressed the Committee in objection to the application.

David Hutchison, on behalf of the agent for the applicant, Pegasus Planning Group, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

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

Resolved

The, in line with the officer’s recommendation, application 23/03428/OUT, be refused for the following reasons:

1.         The proposal is located on an unallocated site and development would represent an urbanising form of development which by reason of its location and proposed land use would result in a cluster of large warehouse buildings poorly related to Banbury that would result in a harmful visual intrusion of development into the landscape and open countryside and would therefore result in harm to the rural character, appearance and quality of the area. This identified harm would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the proposal. Development would therefore fail to accord with Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 policies ESD10, ESD13 and ESD15 and Cherwell Local Plan 1996 saved policies C7, C8 and EMP4, and with national policy guidance given in the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.         The proposed development would be sited in a geographically unsustainable location with poor access to services and facilities and therefore future employees would be highly reliant on the private car to access their workplace, which would not reduce the need to travel and would result in increased car journeys and hence carbon emissions. The proposed development would therefore conflict with policies PSD1, SLE4 and ESD1 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework. This identified harm would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits associated with the proposed development and therefore the development does not constitute sustainable development when assessed against the National Planning Policy Framework as a whole.

3.         The application site is located in an unsustainable location for cycling and walking. The proposal is therefore contrary to policies SLE1 and SLE4 contained within the Cherwell Local Plan 2011- 2031 Part 1 (CLP 2031 Part 1), saved policy TR1 contained within the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 (CLP 1996) and Government guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework.

4.         The proximity of the access roundabout to M40 Junction 11 is likely to lead to severe congestion and potential safety issues arising from queuing on the M40 off slip. The proposal is therefore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119