Description
Erection of new detached dwelling to the east of Touchwood, including landscaping and parking (Amended block plan submitted 17 July 2018 showing the removal of additional dwelling on the plan, in order to clarify that only one new dwelling is proposed).
Conditions / Refusal Reasons
The site is not an infill site in a built up frontage, and is not closely surrounded by buildings. Therefore, the principle of new development in this location would not be acceptable. The site has limited access to few local facilities and poor public transport links, so that occupiers would be highly dependent on travel by car for employment and other services, consequently the development would not be sustainable. The application would not accord with the district's strategy for growth to allow limited growth on infill sites only in the smaller villages and development would undermine this spatial strategy. The Council considers that there are no other material planning considerations that would outweigh the above conflict with Policies CSS1, CSR1, CSM1 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and the NPPF and the NPPG.
Due to its siting, the development would represent an undesirable intensification and consolidation of the loose knit form of development and would detract from the attractive approach to the village and the semi-rural character and appearance of this part of Stoke Row within this part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As such the development would fail to accord with Policies CSR1, CSEN1 and CSQ3 of the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and Policies C4, C9, D1, G2, G4 and H4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and Paragraphs 170 and 172 of the NPPF.
Due to the increased traffic movements associated with a new dwelling along the existing lane, with limited forward visibility and formal passing opportunities, the development is likely to increase the risk to highway safety and to other users of the highway. As such, the development would be contrary to Policies G2, H4 and T1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011 and Paragraph 108 of the NPPF.
Due to the proposed removal of two protected trees (TPO's) shown on the block plan located to the east of G12 trees shown on the plan, the proposed development would have a detrimental impact upon the landscape character of the village within the Chilterns AONB. The proposal would therefore be contrary to Policy CSEN1 of the Core Strategy and Policies C4 and C9 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2011, BS 5837, 2012 and advice set out in the South Oxfordshire Design Guide 2016 and the supporting Trees and Landscape guidance as well as Paragraphs 170 and 175 of the NPPF.
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