®Planning appeal decision
St Andrews Field, Holton, Oxfordshire, OX33 1PZ
Planning appeal 3307594 at St Andrews Field, Holton, Oxfordshire, OX33 1PZ (South Oxfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 31 May 2023 by Inspector Robinson N, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, including the effect on openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it, having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies.
a change of use of agricultural land to agricultural and leisure use; and the erection of two sheds and two storage containers; and the erection of boundary fencing above the existing stone wall; and associated operational works
- Authority
- South Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Change of use
- Inspector
- Robinson N
- Postcode
- OX33 1PZ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt, including the effect on openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land within it, having regard to the Framework and any relevant development plan policies
- the effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- the effect of the proposal on protected species
- whether the land is contaminated and, if so its effect on the site users
- whether the harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations so as to amount to the very special circumstances required to justify the proposal
What decided it
The substantial weight given to harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and loss of openness, combined with harm to character and appearance and unresolved protected species concerns, was not clearly outweighed by other considerations, meaning very special circumstances did not exist to justify the development.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- STRAT1STRAT6DES1DES2ENV1ENV2ENV3ENV11
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 149Paragraph 150Paragraph 133Paragraph 138Paragraph 183
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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- Notice upheld23 July 2026328514484 Gidley Way, Horspath, Oxford, OX33 1TG
- Notice upheld23 July 2026328514384 Gidley Way, Horspath, Oxford, OX33 1TG
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.