Agenda item

Outline planning application (with all matters except access reserved) for the erection of up to 93 dwellings including associated car parking, public open space and landscaping.

The committee considered application P15/V2933/O, an outline planning application (with all matters except access reserved) for the erection of up to 93 dwellings including associated car parking, public open space and landscaping on land north of Appleford Road, Sutton Courtenay.

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.

The planning officer reported that Core Policy 8 was incorrectly referred to in the first recommended reason for refusal (page 46 in the agenda pack) and should be replaced by Core Policy 15.

Jennifer Corrigan, a representative of Sutton Courtenay Parish Council, spoke objecting to the application.

Robin Draper, a local resident, spoke objecting to the application.

Pippa Cheetham of Verity Town Planning and on behalf of O&H Properties, spoke in support of the application.

Councillor Richard Webber, the local ward member, spoke objecting to the application.

A motion moved and seconded, to refuse planning permission was declared carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: that outline planning permission is refused for application P15/V2933/O for the following reasons:

1.         This is an unallocated site beyond the built-up limits of Sutton Courtenay, extending into the open countryside in a manner which does not accord with the District Council’s strategy for growth as set out in the Development Plan and the draft Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 2. The proposal is therefore contrary to the adopted Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 1, in particular to Core Policies 1, 2, 3, 4 and 15, the draft Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 2 (core policies 4a and 8a), and to advice within the National Planning Policy Framework, particularly at paragraphs 11 and 15.

2.         Paragraph 109 of the National Planning Policy Framework states: “Development should only be prevented or refused on highways grounds if there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety, or the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would be severe.” Further, saved Policy DC5 of the adopted Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2011 requires safe and convenient access for developments and that the road network can accommodate the traffic arising from the development without causing safety or congestion problems.

The proposal will generate additional traffic movements on to the highway network including the Culham Crossing and the junctions leading to the Culham Crossing which have been identified as operating at over capacity. Based on the findings of the additional traffic surveys and modelling carried out by the local highway authority the impact of the additional traffic movements associated with the proposed development would be severe and result in manoeuvres by drivers that would be detrimental to the safety of highway users. 

As such the proposal does not amount to sustainable development and would be contrary to saved policy DC5 of the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2011, development policies 16 and 17 of the draft Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 2 and paragraph 109 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

3.         In the absence of a s.106 agreement relating to the provision of affordable housing and financial contributions towards public transport, travel plan monitoring, public art, street naming, waste bin provision, and the management of public open spaces and play areas, the proposal would place increased pressure on these facilities and fail to provide the environmental, social and recreational services needed to support this development. This is considered contrary to core policies 7, 24, 33 and 35 of the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 1, saved policies DC4, DC7, DC9 and H23 of the Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2011 and development policies 16, 17, 20, 28 and 33 of the draft Vale of White Horse Local Plan 2031 Part 2.