®Planning appeal decision
Land at Oakley Farm, Cheltenham, GL52 6PW
development comprising up to 250 residential dwellings, associated infrastructure, ancillary facilities, open space and landscaping; demolition of existing buildings; creation of new vehicular access from Harp Hill
- Authority
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Nunn M
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would comply with the spatial strategy within the development plan
- the effect on the character and appearance of the area, including the landscape and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- the effect on heritage assets
- the effect on highway conditions and capacity
- whether the proposals adequately provide for education for future residents
- the planning balance, including whether exceptional circumstances exist to justify development within the AONB
What decided it
The severe and persistent shortfall in housing land supply, for which no timely plan-led alternative site was available, outweighed the identified but limited harms to the AONB and heritage assets.
The substantial benefits of housing delivery (including 100 affordable units), economic benefits and recreational/landscape improvements outweighed the 'less than substantial' harm to heritage assets and the limited adverse impact on the AONB, such that adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits and the tilted balance in favour of granting permission was not displaced.
Framework references: 11, 48, 56, 57, 60, 95, 111, 112, 176, 177, 199, 201, 202
Plan policies cited: Policy SP1, Policy SP2, Policy SD10, Policy SD4, Policy SD6, Policy SD7, Policy SD8, Policy INF1, Policy INF4, Policy INF6, Policy INF7, Policy L1, Policy D1, Policy CI1, Policy REV1
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.