®Planning appeal decision
Freeland Methodist Church, Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Oxfordshire, OX29 8AQ
Planning appeal 3315927 at Freeland Methodist Church, Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Oxfordshire, OX29 8AQ (West Oxfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 17 April 2024 by Inspector Parsons J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development would preserve the Grade II listed building, known as the Chapel, or any feature of special architectural or historic interest it possesses.
the conversion of Methodist Church (F1) to form a single dwelling, with associated works
- Authority
- West Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- other · Listed Building Consent & Conservation Area Consent Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Parsons J
- Postcode
- OX29 8AQ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the development would preserve the Grade II listed building, known as the Chapel, or any feature of special architectural or historic interest it possesses
- Whether an appropriate alternative would exist to the chapel's use, having regard to local plan policy
- The effect of the proposal on the living conditions of residents, having regard to external amenity space provision
What decided it
The failure to demonstrate that residential use is the optimum viable use for the listed building's conservation, combined with the special regard required by s.66(1) and s.16(2) of the Act to preserve the listed building, meant the modest housing benefits could not outweigh the less than substantial harm identified.
The less than substantial harm to the listed building was weighed against the public benefits of securing its optimum viable use and boosting housing land supply; the harm outweighed the benefits because residential use was not demonstrated to be the optimum viable use when a community shop and café use was viable and would better conserve the heritage asset
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy E5Policy OS4Policy OS2Policy H2Policy EH9Policy EH11
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 209Paragraph 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
More decisions in West Oxfordshire
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed17 April 20243315925Freeland Methodist Church, Wroslyn Road, Freeland, Oxfordshire, OX29 8AQ
- Dismissed29 October 202660149902 Viner Close, Witney, OX28 1EP
- Allowed13 October 20266004776Land South of Ramsden, Akeman Street, Ramsden, OX7 3AY
- Notice varied and upheld18 September 20263358009Chalford Paddocks, Oxford Road, Old Chalford Chipping Norton, OX7 5QR
- Allowed9 September 20266007705Forge Garage, Church Road, Churchill, OX7 6NJ
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.