Tax-payers pick up £545,000 bill for Oxford college planning appeal costs
02/06/2025
Merton College appealed to the Planning Inspector when Cherwell failed to deal with application
by Esme Kenney, Local Democracy Reporter
Two councils have paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to an Oxford University college after delays to a planning application for 540 new homes in the district.
Merton College applied to build the homes on its land at Rutten Lane in Yarnton in 2021, but the application remained undetermined in Autumn 2023.
As a result, the college lodged an appeal to the planning inspectorate which ruled in Merton’s favour in April 2024.
The inspector’s report found both councils had behaved “unreasonably” when dealing with the application, and that it should “clearly have been permitted”.
As part of the appeal, Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council were ordered to pay a combined sum of £545,500 to Merton College.
The district council was asked to note the ‘fact-finding review’ of the delay at an accounts, audit and risk committee meeting on Wednesday, May 28.
In the meeting, it was announced Cherwell District Council paid the college £401,769.74 in November 2024.
Introducing the report, councillor Lesley McLean, portfolio holder for finance and resources, said: “The exceptional level of the cost prompted a review of the case circumstances, in the interests of minimising the risks of such high costs being awarded against the council in the future.
“There are undoubtably improvements to be made to internal processes and management to minimise the risk of repeat.
“However, the portfolio holder wishes to record that there are issues relating to resourcing, cross-service and partner working that require focus and support and also a level of unavoidable risk in managing complex strategic planning applications where planning appeals are an integral part of the planning system.”
Figures obtained by the BBC found the county council paid £145,500.
The inspector’s report adds the district council was “exceedingly late in seeking further information and amendments from the applicant”.
It said the county council’s lack of co-operation with other parties and delay in providing information caused the applicant “unnecessary expense” in preparing evidence.
Before the appeal, concerns were raised about whether the 540-home development would worsen the risk of flooding on the land, which planning agents for Merton College denied.
A spokesperson for Cherwell District Council said: “A thorough examination of the case has been undertaken.
“An internal management action plan has been prepared to address the findings of that examination for immediate implementation.”
An Oxfordshire County Council spokesperson said it had “considered the planning inspectorate’s decision and it will continue to review its internal procedures related to the outcome of this appeal and subsequent costs ordered against the authority”.
Costs are only awarded as part of planning appeals in exceptional circumstances.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
