Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

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

Requests to address the meeting (including the application, whether you will speak in support of or objection to the application, your contact details) should be submitted to democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk  

The deadline for requests to address this meeting is noon on Wednesday 15 April 2026.

Addresses can be made virtually or in person. Full details of public participation at Planning Committee meeting is available in the Constitution, Planning Committee Procedure Rules.

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

To confirm as a correct records the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on the 19 and 26 March 2026.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 19 March 2026 and 26 March 2026 were agreed as correct records and signed by the Chair.

To receive communications from the Chair.

1.          The Chair reminded members of the public that only registered speakers were entitled to speak at the committee meeting at the time instructed by the Chair and members of the public should remain quiet during the meeting and not cause disturbance.

2.          The Chair reminded Members that should they need to leave the room for any reason, that they should be mindful of timing and that they should aim to be present for officers’ presentation and participate in the debate. Members were advised that voting is ultimately a matter for the member’s own judgment.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

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.

Report of Assistant Director Planning

Purpose of report

This report details the Council’s performance in determining planning applications for the Government’s targets on Speed and Quality, as well as general performance figures.

Recommendations

The Planning Committee resolves:

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

Resolved

1.1       That the report be noted.

The Assistant Director of Planning submitted a report to detail the Council’s performance in determining planning applications for the Government’s targets on Speed and Quality, as well as general performance figures.

Resolved

(1)      That the report be noted.

Report of Head of Development Management

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 Planning Committee resolves:

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

Resolved

1.1       That the report be noted.

The Head of Development Management 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.

Approved against officer recommendation, subject to conditions (delegated to officers), completion of a S106 legal agreement (delegated to officers), and removal of objection from Oxfordshire County Council Highways, exact wording delegated to officers.

The Committee considered application 26/00086/F, for the re-development of an existing yard for the erection of 10 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) including allotments, footpath, public open space and other associated works at Buildings, Dovecote Farm, Heyford Road, Somerton for Laxton Properties.

Rebecca Taylor, on behalf of the applicant, addressed the Committee in support of the application.

It was proposed by Councillor Rogers and seconded by Councillor Parkinson that the application be approved, against the officer recommendation, subject to conditions (delegated to officers), completion of a S106 legal agreement (delegated to officers), and removal of the objection from Oxfordshire County Council Highways.

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

Resolved

That, against the officer’s recommendation, application 26/00086/F be delegated to the Assistant Director for Planning to grant permission for application 26/00086/F subject to:

i)          Conditions (delegated to officers for exact wording and provided with the decision notice)

ii)         Completion of a S106 legal agreement (delegated to officers)

iii)        Removal of the objection from Oxfordshire County Council Highways

Approved in line with officer recommendation, subject to conditions (and any amendments as deemed necessary), details to be set out in the minutes.

The Committee considered application 26/00044/OUT, an outline application for car storage, workshop and offices at Tuthill Park, Banbury Road Through Wardington, Wardington for Francis Tuthill Ltd.

It was proposed by Councillor Webb and seconded by Councillor Brant that application 26/00044/OUT be approved, in line with officer recommendation.

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

Resolved

That application 26/00044/OUT, in line with officer recommendation, be delegated to the Assistant Director for Planning to grant permission subject to the conditions set out below (and any amendments to as deemed necessary).

Conditions

1.         Application for approval of all the reserved matters shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission and the development hereby permitted shall be begun either before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission or before the expiration of two years from the date of approval of the last of the reserved matters to be approved whichever is the later. 

Reason: To comply with the provisions of Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, and Article 5(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure (England)) Order 2015 (as amended). 

2.         Details of the landscaping (hereafter referred to as 'the reserved matters') shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority before any development takes place and the development shall be carried out as approved.

Reason: To comply with the provisions of Section 92 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by Section 51 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, and Article 6 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure (England)) Order 2015 (as amended).

3.         Except where otherwise stipulated by conditions attached to this permission, the development shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the application form and drawings numbered Wg1013 001 Rev B, Wg1013 020, Wg1013 020 Rev B, Wg1013 021 Rev A and Wg1013 022 Rev A. 

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.

4.         No development shall commence (including demolition, ground works, vegetation clearance) unless and until a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP: Biodiversity) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The CEMP: Biodiversity shall include as a minimum:

·      Risk assessment and mitigation of potentially damaging construction activities

·      Identification of ‘Biodiversity Protection Zones’

·      Practical measures (both physical measures and sensitive working practices) to avoid or reduce impacts during construction (may be provided as a set of method statements)

·      The location and timing of sensitive works to avoid harm to biodiversity features

·      The times during construction when specialist ecologists need to be present on site to oversee works

·      Responsible persons and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126.