Conditions / Refusal Reasons
The application site falls outside of a settlement as defined in the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035. The proposal would therefore represent an unsustainable form of development that is contrary to the Council's overall strategy for development. The proposed development would encroach into the countryside and detract from the undeveloped, open and rural character and appearance of the site and the sporadic and loose-knit built form of its surroundings. The proposal would have an urbanising impact that would fundamentally and harmfully change the rural character of the site and the surrounding area and would be intrinsically harmful to the Chilterns National Landscape. As such the proposal is contrary to policies STRAT1, H1, DES1, DES2 and ENV1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.
The proposal would intensify the use of an existing access to Port Hill, A4130, which lacks sufficient visibility; as such, the proposal represents unacceptable harm to highway safety and is contrary to Policy TRANS5 (i) of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and Paragraph 114(b) of the National Planning Policy Framework.
Due to the location of the site, the lack of surrounding active travel infrastructure, and the need to cross the busy fast moving A4130, Port Hill, the proposed development would not be easily accessible by walking, wheeling and cycling without increasing risk to users of the highway. Given the very poor active travel connectivity, future users of the development would be likely to be reliant on the private car, which would have a direct bearing on users' health, lifestyles, and social inclusivity. The proposal conflicts with the Local Transport and Connectivity Plan, which seeks to prioritise active travel and reduce vehicle trips along the highway network, and is contrary to policies TRANS2 and TRANS5 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and Paragraph 116 of the NPPF which seek to provide sustainable and safe and convenient access to all users of the highway network.
Insufficient information has been submitted in support of the application to demonstrate that a surface water drainage system is feasible within the site to serve the proposed dwellings contrary to Policy INF4 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035.
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