®Planning appeal decision
Pakefield House - Fortescue House , St. Johns Street, BICESTER, OX26 6SL
redevelopment of the site to form 38 no. retirement living apartments and including communal facilities, access, car parking and landscaping
- Authority
- Cherwell District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Cooper W
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would be appropriately located and designed in respect of flood risk
- Whether the proposed development would adequately provide for biodiversity, with particular regard to river corridor habitat
- The effect of the proposal on highway safety, with particular regard to the proposed access
What decided it
The tilted balance under paragraph 11 of the Framework was engaged due to the housing land supply shortfall, and the limited flood risk harm did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the substantial benefits of the scheme.
The substantial combination of housing, socio-economic, sustainability and biodiversity benefits outweighed the limited flood risk harm from a small part of the development lying within Flood Zone 3b, so the presumption in favour of sustainable development tipped the balance in favour of granting permission despite conflict with the development plan.
Framework references: 11, 110, 164, 167
Plan policies cited: Policy ESD 6, Policy ESD 10, Policy ESD 15
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.