Planning Application Details

The site consists of agricultural land which falls outside of West Hagbourne's built area. The development would extend beyond the built limit of West Hagbourne and would create a disproportionate addition to the village. Due to the isolated location away from the village the proposed development would not constitute sustainable development. Furthermore, the proposed development would not represent infill development as the dwellings would not be closely surrounded by buildings, nor would it involve the infilling of a small gap in an otherwise built-up frontage. The development therefore fails to accord with policies STRAT1, H1 and H16 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.

The proposed development would have a harmful impact on the significance of West Hagbourne's Conservation Area. The development would be situated on agricultural land which is situated on a prominent, isolated and open site which is raised above the level of the road. The setting of the conservation area is formed largely by farmland in all directions including the application site, which gives an ability to appreciate the village's rural setting. The proposed dwellings fail to conserve or enhance the special interest, character, setting and appearance of the West Hagbourne conservation area and its designated heritage assets. The development is therefore contrary to policies ENV6 and ENV8 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035, and paragraphs 203 and 208 of the NPPF.

The proposed market housing mix is unacceptable and fails to accord with the council's strategic housing market assessment (SHMA). A mix of smaller and larger dwellings should be provided whereas the proposed development seeks to deliver large market houses in the form of four 4 bedroomed dwellings and two 3 bedroomed dwellings. No smaller dwellings are proposed. There has been no information to justify the deviation from the SHMA market requirement, nor has a viability report been included in support of the proposed development. The proposed housing mix is considered unreasonable and fails to meet the requirements of policy H11 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 which seeks to ensure the right mix of housing sizes, types and tenures are provided on all residential sites to meet objectively assessed need. The development will therefore fail to ensure a mixed and balanced community.