Agenda item

Refused, reasons to be set out in the minutes.

The Committee considered application 20/02453/F for a fuel depot including ancillary offices, the installation of plant and hardstanding at Horton Grounds Quarry for Certas Energy Limited and FINSCO Property Company.

Councillor Douglas Webb, Local Ward Member addressed the meeting in objection to the application.

Sir David Gilmour, Chairman of (Campaign to Protect Rural England CPRE) Oxfordshire, addressed the meeting in objection to the application.

Parish Councillor Steven Tilling Hornton Parish Council addressed the meeting in objection to the application.

Mr Peter Frampton, Agent for the applicant addressed the meeting in support of the application.

In reaching its decision the Committee considered the officers report and presentation, the addresses of the local ward member and public speakers and the written updates.

Resolved

(1)      That application 20/02453/F be refused for the following reasons:

1.     The proposed development represents an unjustified and unsustainable form of development in a rural location, which lack opportunities for sustainable travel to and from the site and would in significant adverse impacts on the character of the surrounding environment, for which it has not been demonstrated that exceptional circumstances exist for such development in this unsustainable location. The proposals are therefore contrary to the provisions and aims of Policies SLE1, SLE4 and ESD1 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

2.     By virtue of its siting, scale and form and associated lighting and significant HGV vehicle movements the proposed development would appear as an alien feature within the rural landscape, intruding into the open countryside. The proposals would have a detrimental visual impact on the rural character and appearance of the locality, causing significant and demonstrable harm to the character and appearance of the area and open rural landscape. The proposals are therefore contrary to Policies ESD13 and ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1, saved Policy C28 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

3.     The proposals have failed to demonstrate that safe and suitable access with appropriate vison splays can be achieved at the site, to accommodate the proposed significant intensification of the use of the site and associated vehicular movements. The proposals are therefore contrary to Policy ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

4.     The proposals would generate frequent heavy-goods vehicle movements through residential areas, including the villages of Drayton and Wroxton and Hardwick and Ruscote on the periphery of Banbury. It has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the levels of such movements would not adversely affect the amenity of these residential areas and villages, to the detriment of the living environment in these locations. The proposals are therefore contrary to saved Policies TR10 and C31 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996 and ESD15 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1.

5.     The applicant has failed to demonstrate that an appropriate surface water drainage strategy, and mitigation measures necessary in the event of spillage of fuel, can be achieved at the site that would ensure that the proposed development would not be to the detriment of the water environment/surrounding natural environment and that water quality would be maintained and enhanced by avoiding adverse effects; contrary to saved Policy ENV1 of the Cherwell Local Plan 1996, Policies ESD7 and ESD8 of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 Part 1 and Government guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.