®Planning appeal decision
Land East of Barns Lane, Burford, OX18 4SZ
Planning appeal 3293656 at Land East of Barns Lane, Burford, OX18 4SZ (West Oxfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 10 August 2022 by Inspector Butcher H, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of Burford Conservation Area, and the effect on the setting of the Grade I Listed Church of St John the Baptist.
up to 141 assisted extra care residential units (Class C2) and up to 32 affordable housing units (Class C3) along with associated communal facilities, parking, vehicular and pedestrian access, internal roads, public open space , landscaping, drainage and other associated infrastructure
- Authority
- West Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Butcher H
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of Burford Conservation Area, and the effect on the setting of the Grade I Listed Church of St John the Baptist
- The effect of the development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area including the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
- Whether adequate provision is made for affordable housing
- Whether or not the Council can demonstrate a 5-year supply of housing land
What decided it
The 'less than substantial harm' to the conservation area and the setting of the Grade I listed church, together with unmitigated harm to the AONB, were not outweighed by the public benefits, providing clear reasons for refusal under the Framework.
The public benefits of housing delivery, extra-care provision and economic benefits, given significant weight collectively, did not outweigh the less than substantial harm to heritage assets or the harm to the AONB, and no exceptional circumstances were demonstrated to justify major development in the AONB.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- OS2OS4EH9EH10EH11EH13EH1BC1H3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 202Paragraph 177
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.