Description
Outline application for up to 19 dwellings (including 40% affordable housing), with all matters reserved with the exception of access on Land adjacent to The Orchard, Benson.(as amplified by drainage strategy received 1 September 2021).
Conditions / Refusal Reasons
It has not been demonstrated that the proposed development can secure the necessary footway connectivity to the surrounding area. The proposal is therefore not designed to encourage walking and cycling to nearby facilities, employment and transport, does not encourage use of sustainable modes of transport or ensure the needs of all users are planned for. The proposal does not provide safe and convenient routes for cyclists and pedestrians and does not provide safe walking routes that. As a result, the proposal would be isolated from Benson and future occupants would be entirely dependent on vehicular use given that there are no footways to access the local services and facilities of Benson. As such, the proposal is contrary to Policy TRANS 2 (Promoting Sustainable Transport), Policy TRANS4 (Transport Assessments), Policy TRANS5 (Consideration of Development Proposals) of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.
It has not been demonstrated the proposal would not threaten the health and longevity of trees and hedgerows on 3rd party land, making a positive contribution to the rural character and appearance of the area that forms an important transition from the village to wider countryside and which is intended to be retained and enhanced as part of a landscape buffer for the adjacent development, and alongside the introduction of hard engineering features for the footway and signage this means the proposal will result in detrimental harm to the rural character and appearance of the site and its surroundings. As such, the proposal is contrary to Policy DES1 (High Quality Development) and Policy ENV1 (Landscape and Countryside).
In the absence of a completed Section 106 legal agreement, the proposal fails to secure affordable housing to meet the needs of the district contrary to Policy H9 (Affordable Housing) of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and fails to secure the infrastructure necessary to meet the needs of the development, contrary to Policies INF1 (Infrastructure Provision), TRANS2 (Supporting Strategic Transport Investment), ENV5 (Green Infrastructure in New Developments) and CF5 (Open Space, Sport and Recreation in New Residential Development) of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.
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