Conditions / Refusal Reasons
The proposed access due to its siting and design would be visually prominent from the public highway and would detract from the landscape and scenic beauty of the surrounding area, which forms part of the Chilterns National Landscape. There is a long established existing access serving the agricultural holding and the need for the proposed access does not outweigh the identified harm. As such the proposal is contrary to Policies DES1, DES2, and ENV1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and the NPPF.
The proposed access would require the removal of a section of established native hedgerow, a priority habitat. The need for the proposed access has not been demonstrated, and even if this were the case other potentially more suitable locations for a new access have not been considered. There is a long established existing access serving the agricultural holding and the need for the proposed access does not outweigh the identified harm. As a result the proposal conflicts with the requirements of Policy ENV2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and the NPPF.
The proposed access is located on a gradient, where the land falls away from the carriageway. No details have been supplied for consideration with regards to a vehicle waiting to egress onto the B480 in terms of visibility splay. Also, no details have been supplied in relation to structural calculations so as to ensure the adopted Highway is not affected by the proposed works due to subsidence. In the absence of sufficient information to demonstrate suitable visibility splays at the proposed access the development would represent a risk to highway safety in conflict with Policy TRANS5 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and the NPPF.
(Show Map - opens in new window)
