Conditions / Refusal Reasons
The development would fail to enhance and complement the surroundings physically and visually. The proposed design and layout fail to complement the local character of the surrounding area, by the use of poor materials, level of glazing, overall layout design with vehicle parking and circulation area and no private amenity area. The proposal is therefore substandard in design terms causing detriment to the visual amenities of the locality and would lead to a progressive detraction from the rural character and appearance of the area and the surrounding open countryside. The development therefore fails to accord with policies STRAT1, ENV1, DES1 and DES2 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035, Joint Design Guide 2022 and NPPF 2024.
The proposed layout design of the dwelling window/doors openings facing the shared parking and manoeuvring area within the site in close proximity of proposed habitable rooms would cause unacceptable harm on the amenity of the future occupiers. The overall location of the site adjacent with the nearby M40 and its slip road junction, will have serious negative impact on the amenity of the future occupiers by virtue of noise and air pollution. It is therefore considered that the proposal would cause unacceptable impact and harm on the amenity of future occupiers by virtues of noise, disturbance and air pollution from vehicles at the site. The development is therefore contrary to Policy DES6, ENV12 and EP1 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035 and NPPF 2024 as regards the harm to the amenity of existing and future occupiers of the dwelling houses from noise and disturbances.
The proposed site is accessed via a long isolated private access road which is shared by a farm and commercial businesses using HGVs. The site is highly dependent on car travel, and there are no amenities that can be readily accessed by foot. The development fails to provide and encourage sufficient safe and practical accessibility by sustainable transport modes which is contrary to policies TRANS2, TRANS4 and TRANS5 of the South Oxfordshire Local Plan 2035, Policy 36 of the Oxfordshire Local Transport and Connectivity Plan and paragraphs 104, 105, 110 and 112 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2024.
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