®Planning appeal decision
Land East of Barns Lane, Burford, OX18 4SZ
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.
Framework references: 202, 177
Plan policies cited: OS2, OS4, EH9, EH10, EH11, EH13, EH1, BC1, H3
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.