®Planning appeal decision
Land West of Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Oxon, OX29 8AQ
Planning appeal 3301202 at Land West of Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Oxon, OX29 8AQ (West Oxfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 18 January 2023 by Inspector Porter H, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and local distinctiveness of Freeland, including its effect on the local landscape and relevant heritage assets.
outline planning application for the erection of a retirement community of up to 160 extra care units (C2 use class) with associated communal facilities and open space, with access from Wroslyn Road, (all matters reserved except access) and retention of veterinary practice in the coach house
- Authority
- West Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Porter H
- Postcode
- OX29 8AQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and local distinctiveness of Freeland, including its effect on the local landscape and relevant heritage assets
- Whether the appeal site offers an appropriate location for the proposed development, having regard to whether it would offer suitable access to a good range of services and facilities and where the need to travel by private car can be minimised
What decided it
The severe and permanent harm to the character, local distinctiveness and heritage assets of Freeland outweighed the benefits of the extra care housing and other material considerations, including the tilted balance arising from the housing land supply shortfall.
The adverse impacts of granting planning permission, principally harm to character, local distinctiveness and heritage assets, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits (including extra care housing provision and economic benefits) when assessed against the Framework policies taken as a whole.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy OS2Policy H2Policy OS4Policy EH2Policy EH9Policy T1Policy T3Policy H1
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 74Paragraph 105Paragraph 130Paragraph 134Paragraph 170Paragraph 174Paragraph 202Paragraph 203
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 authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
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- Dismissed2 September 2026600910346 Market Square, Witney, OX28 6AL
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.