Council buckles in face of potential legal costs and won’t defend planning refusal
05/06/2026
Previously councillors had backed local opposition to the Baynards Green warehouses
Cherwell District Council won’t defend its decision to back local people and refuse permission for warehouses to be built on around 150 hectares of farmland at Baynards Green.
At a marathon seven hour planning meeting in January councillors fought hard in support of those people who would be affected by the development, refusing three planning applications on the grounds of the considerable harm to the landscape and the effect on those living nearby.
But in the face of a planning appeals by the applicants the council now says it “does not intend to bring forward evidence to defend the reasons for refusal”.
The decision follows legal and professional advice. At the time of the original decision planning officers had recommended all three applications be accepted. They warned elected members that a refusal could result in the application being taken to appeal, resulting in “huge costs” to the council were the case lost.
Following the announcement that the appeal wouldn’t be defended the Deputy Leader of Cherwell District Council, Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Brant, said: “The decision not to actively defend the refusals at appeal has not been taken lightly.
“Following detailed legal and professional advice, the Council has had to consider not only the strength of local opposition but also the likelihood of successfully defending the reasons for refusal.
“Regrettably, the evidence available to the Council is not considered strong enough to provide a realistic prospect of success at appeal.”
The Council has notified the Planning Inspector of their decision “subject to an acceptable planning obligation being secured”. The appeal is scheduled for 15 days, starting on September 22.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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