Agenda item

Refused

The Committee considered application 11/01755/OUT for outline planning permission with all matters reserved for the erection of up to 70 dwellings (Class C3), public open space including a play area/amenity space and a balancing pond, associated earthworks to facilitate surface water drainage, landscaping, car parking, a pumping station and other ancillary works.

Councillor Victoria Irvine addressed the committee as ward member.

Emma Kane, a member of the Hook Norton Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application.

Kathryn Ventham, agent for the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

In considering the application, members commented on the sustainability of the proposed development, in particular, in relation to the cumulative effect on the sustainability of transport and education. Members also considered the impact on the Council’s strategy for accommodating growth in the District.

Councillor Lawrie Stratford proposed that the application be refused. Councillor Clarke seconded the proposal.

In reaching their decision, the Committee considered the officers’ report, written update, presentation and presentations of the public speakers.

Resolved

That application 11/01755/OUT be refused, for the following reasons:

(1)               The proposal represents development beyond the built up limits of the village within open countryside that is not supported by existing or emerging policy or local people. As such the proposal is contrary to the core principles of the NPPF set out at Paragraph 17 and in particular the requirement for a plan led system empowering local people to shape their surroundings, the requirement to take account of different roles and character of different areas recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and supporting thriving rural communities, encouraging reuse of brown field land and actively managing patterns of growth to make fullest use of walking, cycling and public transport. Notwithstanding the Council's present inability to demonstrate that it has a 5 year supply of housing land required by Paragraph 47 of the NPPF, the development of this site causes significant adverse effects and is contrary to the Council’s spatial strategy that means the development cannot be justified on the basis of a land supply deficiency alone. As such the proposed development is contrary to polices CC6 and SP3 of the South East Plan and the saved policies H13 and H18 of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan, Policy for villages 1 and 2 and policies BSC3, BSC4 and  ESD1 of the Proposed Submission Draft Cherwell Local Plan May 2012, paragraph 17 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

(2)               In the absence of a satisfactory unilateral undertaking or any other form of S106 Legal Agreement the Local Planning Authority cannot guarantee that the infrastructure directly required to service or serve the proposed development, including affordable housing in line with local needs, open space, sports and recycling facilities including LAP provision, refuse bins and recycling, community facilities, general transport and access impacts (including rights of way), education, school and library infrastructure, day care and adult learning, museum resourcing, strategic waste management and policing; will be provided, which would be contrary to Policies H5, TR1 and R12 of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan and Policies H7, TR4, R8, R9 and R10A of the Non-Statutory Cherwell Local Plan 2011.