®Planning appeal decision
Avington Wellsite, Land off Matterley Farm, Petersfield Road, Ovington Down, Hampshire, SO24 0HU
use of wellsite and surface and sub-surface infrastructure for a period of 5 years to allow for appraisal of oil and gas
- Authority
- South Downs
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- minerals-waste · Major general industry/storage/warehousing
- Inspector
- Osgathorp C
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether or not the proposal would conserve and enhance the landscape, scenic beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the South Downs National Park.
What decided it
The Inspector found that the proposal would not compromise the reasons for the National Park's designation and that exceptional circumstances existed given the demonstrable national need for oil exploration and the use of already-existing infrastructure.
The significant benefits of the energy supply and economic contribution, combined with no identified harm to the National Park's landscape, wildlife or cultural heritage, supported a finding of exceptional circumstances justifying the development.
Framework references: 176, 177, 209, 211
Plan policies cited: Policy SD1, Policy SD2, Policy SD4, Policy SD9, Policy 4, Policy 24
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.