®Planning appeal decision
Bell Hotel, Church Street, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 3PP
Planning appeal 3337853 at Bell Hotel, Church Street, Charlbury, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 3PP (West Oxfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 16 July 2024 by Inspector Fleming L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development / works would preserve the grade II listed Bell Hotel or its setting and any features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses, whether the scheme would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Charlbury Conservation Area and whether it would preserve the settings of the grade II listed Bell Cottage and the grade II listed Stone House and attached railings.
erection of a stone wall enclosure to the forecourt and metal gates, a replacement signage pole with replica bell (retrospective), new flag pole fix to the rear elevation (amended)
- Authority
- West Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- other · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Fleming L
- Postcode
- OX7 3PP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development / works would preserve the grade II listed Bell Hotel or its setting and any features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses, whether the scheme would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Charlbury Conservation Area and whether it would preserve the settings of the grade II listed Bell Cottage and the grade II listed Stone House and attached railings
What decided it
The stone wall enclosure, despite being constructed from stone, has a hard modern finish that contrasts with the listed building's traditional masonry and dominates the main elevation, causing less than substantial but considerable harm to three listed buildings and the conservation area that cannot be justified by the modest public benefits claimed.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy OS2Policy OS4Policy EH9Policy EH10Policy EH11Policy NE2Policy HE2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 205Paragraph 208
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 2024
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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.