Planning appeal decision
Nineveh Farm, Nuneham Courtney, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX44 9PA
Planning appeal 3308675 at Nineveh Farm, Nuneham Courtney, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX44 9PA (South Oxfordshire District Council) was allowed on 13 December 2023 by Inspector Nicholls H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effects of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt.
installation of renewable led energy generating station comprising ground mounted photovoltaic solar arrays and battery- based electricity storage containers together with substation, inverter/transformer stations, site accesses, internal access tracks, security measures, access gates, other ancillary infrastructure, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements without complying with a condition attached to planning permission Ref P20/S4360/FUL, dated 11.01.22
- Authority
- South Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- utilities-energy · Other Major Developments
- Inspector
- Nicholls H
- Postcode
- OX44 9PA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effects of the proposal on the openness of the Green Belt
- the landscape and visual amenity of the surrounding area
- designated heritage assets in the surrounding area
- Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harms, 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 public benefits from prolonged renewable energy generation and carbon offsetting to 2050 and beyond constitute very special circumstances that clearly outweigh the identified harms to Green Belt openness, landscape, heritage assets and agricultural land.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- STRAT6ENV1DES1DES9DES7
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 202
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.
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