Agenda item

Hybrid application comprising (1) Full planning permission for the demolition of the existing pig farm and its associated buildings; the erection of 183 dwellings (Use Class C3); the creation of a new vehicular access from Britwell Road; the creation of a vehicular access from the industrial estate road south of Cuxham Road (to serve the proposed employment area); public open space; sustainable urban drainage system; landscaping; and other ancillary works, including off-site highway works; and (2) Outline permission for up to 650sqm of Use Class B1(a) floorspace with access and all other matters reserved.

The committee considered application P17/S3231/O, a hybrid application comprising (1) full planning permission for the demolition of the existing pig farm and its associated buildings; the erection of 183 dwellings (Use Class C3); the creation of a new vehicular access from Britwell Road; the creation of a vehicular access from the industrial estate road south of Cuxham Road (to serve the proposed employment area); public open space; sustainable urban drainage system; landscaping; and other ancillary works, including off-site highway works; and (2) outline permission for up to 650sqm of Use Class B1(a) floorspace, with access and all other matters reserved, on land at Britwell Road Watlington.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report which formed part of the agenda pack for this meeting.

Gill Bindoff, a representative of Watlington Parish Council, outlined the Parish Council’s position and explained that they had no objection to the repeat application.

Tim Horton, Liz Harris and Mike Gardner, local residents, spoke, objecting to the application.

Anna Badcock, the local ward councillor, addressed the committee on this item.

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the officers’ recommendation that, had the council determined the application, they would have refused planning permission, was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: Having regard to the current appeal against non-determination, officers recommended that had the council determined application P17/S3231/O, it would have refused planning permission for the following reasons:

1.    That the traffic arising from the development would add to the residual cumulative impacts on the local road network, most notably through Watlington Town Centre.  The proposal would increase congestion and delays and would be harmful to highway safety.  The proposal is therefore contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, Policy CSM2 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy, Policy T1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011, and Policies P2 and site-specific Policy Site A of the Watlington Neighbourhood Development Plan.

2.    That the proposed development would increase congestion and delays within Watlington Town Centre and would have a severe adverse impact on Watlington’s Air Quality Management Area.  The proposal is therefore contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, Policy CSM1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy, Policy EP1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011, and Policy P2 of the Watlington Neighbourhood Development Plan.

3.    In the absence of a completed S106 legal agreement, the proposal fails to secure affordable housing to meet the needs of the District.  As such, the development would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, Policy CSH3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and Policy Site A of the Watlington Neighbourhood Development Plan.

4.    In the absence of a completed Section 106 legal agreement, the proposal fails to secure infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of the development. As such, the development would be contrary to the National Planning Policy Framework, Policy CSI1 and CSM2 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and Policies T1, D10, D12, R2 and R6 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011.