®Planning appeal decision
Field House, South Leigh, WITNEY, OX29 6XG
change of use of agricultural land to domestic curtilage, erection of a 4 bay oak-framed garage, creation of gravel driveway, turning and parking area and ecological and landscaping enhancement measures. Summary
- Authority
- West Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- ldc · Lawful Development Certificate
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- other · Other minor developments
- Inspector
- Boffin D
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Appeal A: whether the Council's decision to refuse to grant a certificate of lawful use or development is well-founded
- Appeal B: the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- Appeal B: the effect of the development on the contribution that setting makes to the significance/special interest of the Manor House, a grade II listed building
- Appeal B: the effect of the development on biodiversity
What decided it
Appeal A: the appellant's genuine and reasonable need to garage eight high-value classic cars used for domestic purposes satisfied the test for permitted development under Class E of the GPDO. Appeal B: the unacceptable harm to landscape character and visual amenity from the introduction of built form and suburbanisation in the countryside outweighed any limited economic or environmental benefits.
Appeal B: the limited economic benefits from the use of the garage for classic cars and the biodiversity and ecological enhancements were insufficient to outweigh the moderate harm to landscape character and moderate to minor residual visual impact on the appearance of the surrounding area.
Framework references: 56, 135
Plan policies cited: West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031 Policy OS2, West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031 Policy OS4, West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031 Policy EH2, West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031 Policy EH11, West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031 Policy EH3, South Leigh Parish Neighbourhood Plan Policy SLE1
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.