Agenda, decisions and minutes

8.       Land North of Grundon, Merton Street, Banbury

Councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Banbury Town Council which had been consulted on the application.  

Councillor Rebecca Biegel, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Banbury Town Council which had been consulted on the application.

Councillor Dr Isabel Creed, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Banbury Town Council which had been consulted on the application.

Councillor Chris Brant, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Banbury Town Council which had been consulted on the application.

10.     30 Orchard Way, Banbury, OX16 0HA

Councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Banbury Town Council which had been consulted on the application.  

Councillor Rebecca Biegel, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Banbury Town Council which had been consulted on the application.

Councillor Dr Isabel Creed, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Banbury Town Council which had been consulted on the application.

Councillor Chris Brant, Other Registerable Interest, as a member of Banbury Town Council which had been consulted on the application.

The Chairman to report on any requests to address the meeting.

Please note that the deadline for requests to address the meeting is noon on the working day before the meeting. Addresses can be made virtually or in person.

The Chairman advised that requests to address the meeting would be dealt with at each item.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 March 2025.

Subject to the correction of the refusal reason at Minute 124, the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Committee to consider requests for and proposed pre-committee site visits.

Any requests or recommendations for site visits will be published with the written update.

There were no proposed pre-committee site visits.

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

The Committee considered application 24/02661/F for the development of 10 speculative commercial units and associated car parking/yard areas planning use classes B2, B8, Eg(i), Eg(ii), Eg(iii) at Land North Of Grundon, Merton Street, Banbury for E5 Commercial (Higham Way) Ltd.

Wendy Parga, local resident, addressed the Committee in objection to the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Biegel and seconded by Councillor Creed that application 24/02661/F be refused as the application was contrary to the current allocation in the current Local Plan under policy Banbury 19 and contrary to policy to ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2025 and saved policies C28 and ENV1 and in absence of a satisfactory unilateral undertaking or any other form of Section 106 legal agreement, the proposal was contrary to Policy INF1 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031, CDC’s Planning Obligations SPD 2018 and Government guidance within the National Planning Policy Framework. It was agreed that the exact wording for reasons for refusal to be delegated to officers.

In reaching its decision the Committee considered the officer’s report and presentation, written updates and the addresses of the public speaker.

Resolved

That, against officer recommendation, the application be refused with the exact wording for reasons for refusal to be delegated to officers and to be published with the decision notice.

Approved in line with officer recommendation, subject to conditions, details to be set out in the minutes.

The Committee considered application 24/02937/OUT, an outline application  with all matters reserved at Land Parcels For Central Energy Centre, Somerton Road, Upper Heyford, OX25 5LB for Upper Heyford Parish Council.  The Upper Heyford Heat Network is to provide low-carbon heat supply to 156 buildings in Upper Heyford Village. The buildings comprise 153 Domestic buildings and 3 non-domestic buildings comprising The Barley Mow (public house), Upper Heyford Reading Rooms and Upper Heyford Village Hall. The three main construction components to the work: 1 - Drilling of 134 no. boreholes to accommodate the closed loop ground source pipework which will provide the long-term low-grade heat for the heat network; 2 - A newly constructed, single storey energy centre building housing internal Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) units, thermal storage and other heat generation and supply infrastructure - the building will have external Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) units and associated pipework; 3 - Approximately 6,614m of trench work to connect pipework from the boreholes to the energy centre and the primary heat distribution system to all the participating buildings via dedicated, in property heat interface units (HIU)

In reaching its decision the Committee considered the officer’s report and presentation and the written updates.

Resolved

That, in line with the officer’s recommendation, authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Planning and Development to grant permission for application 24/02937/OUT subject to conditions (and any amendment to those conditions as deemed necessary).

Conditions

Time Limit

1.         The development to which this permission relates shall be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date of this permission. 

Reason - To comply with the provisions of Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. 

Compliance with Plans

2.         Except where otherwise stipulated by conditions attached to this permission, the development shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the form and following approved plans and documents:

Heat Network Layout. Drawing No. 2303 005a Rev 2.0;

Trench Detail. Drawing No. 2303 015 Rev 1.0;

Natural Heritage Constraints. Drawing No. 23030 006 Rev 3.0;

Cultural Constraints. Drawing No. 2303 007 Rev 3.0;

Landscape Character. Drawing No. 2303- 008 Rev 3.0;

Heat Network Pipe Layout. Drawing No. 2303-009 Rev 3.0;

Borehole Array Layout. Drawing No. 2303-013 Rev 3.0;

Site Plan. Drawing No. 2303-001 Rev 3.0; and

Rights of Way Plan. Drawing No. 2303-003 Rev 3.0.

Reason – For the avoidance of doubt, to ensure that the development is carried out only as approved by the Local Planning Authority and comply with Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework. 

Highways

3.         No development shall commence unless and until full specification details (including construction, layout, surfacing and drainage) of the turning area and 21 parking spaces within the curtilage of the site, arranged so that motor vehicles may enter, turn round and leave in a forward direction and vehicles may park off the highway, have been submitted to and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 134.

Approved in line with officer recommendation, details to be set out in the minutes.

The Committee considered application 25/00577/HPA, a prior approval application for a single storey rear extension forming accessible bedroom - height to eaves 2.68m, length 5m, overall height 3.5m at 30 Orchard Way, Banbury, OX16 0HA for Mrs Gurmit Saran.

In reaching its decision the Committee considered the officer’s report and presentation and written updates.

Resolved

That, in line with the officer’s recommendation, prior approval is not required and application approved.

Report of Assistant Director Planning and Development

Purpose of report

To keep Members informed about planning appeal progress including decisions received and the scheduling of public inquiries and hearings for new and current appeals.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To note the position on planning appeals contained within the report.

Resolved 

(1)      That the position statement be accepted.

The Assistant Director Planning and Development submitted a report which informed Members about planning appeal progress including decisions received and the scheduling of public inquiries and hearings for new and current appeals.

Resolved

(1)          That the position statement be accepted.