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Planning Inspectorate allows up to 40 houses in Adderbury
16/09/2021
Decision to overrule planning committee decision was made noting that Cherwell didn’t have a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites
Up to 40 houses look set to be built in fields in Adderbury despite Cherwell District Council refusing the planning application. Following an appeal by the applicant the Planning Inspectorate has overruled the council’s decision and granted permission.
The land on Berry Hill Road has been subject to a number of unsuccessful applications over the years. The development site sits outside the village boundary identified in Adderbury’s own neighbourhood plan, which sought to protect against such developments.
The decision to overrule Cherwell District Council’s planning Committee was made by William Cooper for the Planning Inspectorate. In granting permission for the application on appeal he noted that Cherwell District Council could not demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites.
He said: “It would contribute up to 40 dwellings in the area, within the above context of housing land shortfall. The dwellings would include up to 14 affordable units and up to two units built to Lifetime Homes standards, to help meet local community housing needs. The proposal would provide potential for enhancing the area’s green infrastructure network through additional publicly accessible, naturalistic green space with views of the grade I listed church spire, and proposed highway improvements.
“Furthermore, associated socio-economic benefits during and after construction would include patronage of local facilities, businesses and services in the village, which would contribute to their sustenance. The above together amounts to a substantial combination of benefits.”
The inspector felt the views of local people in their Neighbourhood Plan could only be allowed a limited amount of impact on his decision. He said: “While the proposal would conflict with Policy AD1 of the [Neighbourhood Plan], it is more than three years since the [Neighbourhood Plan] became part of the development plan. With reference to paragraph 14 of the [National Planning Policy Framework], this limits the weight which the conflict with [Neighbourhood Plan] Policy AD1 carries.”
The appeal against the decision made by Cherwell’s Planning Committee was made by Hollins Strategic Land LLP. The planning committee had rejected the application in January 2020.
Following the Inspector’s decision outline planning permission has been granted for up to 40 dwellings with associated landscaping, open space and vehicular access off Berry Hill Road.
A spokesperson for Cherwell District Council told Banbury FM: “For this appeal, the Inspector concluded that the proposal would provide benefits in terms of housing delivery at a time when there is some housing land supply shortfall: 14 affordable units, two units built to Lifetime Homes standards; enhancements to the area’s green infrastructure network; and highway improvements.
“In their view, the adverse impacts of the proposal in terms of the suitability of the location and the impact on the area’s character and appearance would be moderate and would not outweigh these identified benefits.
“Officers of the Council are working proactively to progress other sites that have been allocated for housing development to bolster the district’s supply.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam