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Councillors refuse application to build on Kings Sutton farmland
18/08/2022
Councillors agreed that the application “results in an incongruous, intrusive and disconnected collection of dwellings in an open a parcel of land”
A plan to build up to 32 houses on a greenfield site in Kings Sutton have been refused by West Northamptonshire Council. Rectory Homes wanted to develop the farmland site off Hampton Drive on the Little Rushes estate, to the north of Blenheim Rise.
At a meeting of the South Northamptonshire Local Area Planning Committee last Thursday (August 11) Councillors agreed with the Council officer’s recommendation to refuse the planning application.
The report to members said Rectory Home’s plans did not comply with the Council’s adopted Development Plan which looked to direct new residential development to the most sustainable locations in the district. Specifically, the proposal was a market-led housing scheme located outside of the village boundary.
West Northamptonshire Council can demonstrate in excess of a five-year housing land supply, which means the need to provide housing did not need to outweigh other planning policies. The authority currently has around 6.9 years’ worth of supply identified.
Councillors noted that the proposal didn’t comply with elements of the Council’s Development Plan which sought to “avoid the unacceptable loss of undeveloped land and open spaces of particular significance to the form and character of a settlement”.
With this development officers felt the plan “results in an incongruous, intrusive and disconnected collection of dwellings in an open parcel of land that contributes positively to the appearance, character and setting of the settlement through its undeveloped, peaceful nature, and would disrupt the tranquillity of the agrarian landscape in this location”.
Of all the comments received the overwhelmingly majority objected to the scheme.
Councillors chose to accept the officer’s recommendation to refuse the application.
Earlier in the planning process Kings Sutton Parish Council had asked Rectory Homes to provide a justification for building in open countryside outside the agreed village confines. Rectory Homes replied saying: “Our site is similar to two allowed appeals in respect of the sites at Land east of Waters Lane and Land south of Thenford Road, both in Middleton Cheney, in that it is located outside of the defined settlement boundary but adjoins it and is located within a primary service village.
“Despite conflict with local planning policy given the site’s position outside of the defined settlement, the sustainability of those sites were given great weight and the benefits clearly outweighed the harm given the significant shortfall in affordable housing. On this basis, those appeals were allowed.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam
Maureen Young On 18/08/2022 at 9:11 pm
Excellent news !!!!!!