Hand-tied councillors approve Hook Norton development
21/03/2025
The lack of achieving government building targets left the committee with a fait au complet
Councillors have reluctantly passed an outline application by L&Q Estates to build up to 73 houses on land around Hook Norton Sports and Social Club. The application was strongly opposed by both Hook Norton Parish Council and villagers.
Councillor Eddie Reeves addressed the meeting explaining why he believed this wasn’t a sustainable development. He urged planning committee members to “show some spine” and refuse the application, going against the officer’s recommendation to approve it.
Liz Sparrow from Hook Norton Parish Council focused her comments on two of the council’s greatest elements of concern, those being the safety of access to the site and the over-development of the village, which could damage its character and community spirit.
Initially committee members moved to reject the proposal, providing a number of reasons why they felt it was unsuitable. But the council’s Head of Development Management, Paul Seckington, advised them they were unlikely to win any appeal to the Planning Inspector by the developer as the council didn’t have the required level of new housing coming on-stream in the district – a figure recently increased by the government.
A subsequent proposal to approve the application passed, but with support from just four councillors, with the rest abstaining.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
