Land East of Warwick Road, Banbury, OX16 1HD

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• Whether the principle of development in the countryside is acceptable
• The degree to which the proposed development would result in landscape and visual harm
• Whether the proposed development would harm the setting of nearby heritage assets (Hanwell Conservation Area (HCA), St Peter's Church and Hanwell Castle)
• Whether the proposed development would conflict with national policy regarding Best and Most Versatile agricultural (BMV) land

What decided it

The substantial benefits of housing delivery, particularly the provision of 170 dwellings including 68 affordable homes in an area with a severe housing land supply shortfall and unaffordability, outweighed the moderate landscape harm, limited BMV land harm and less than substantial heritage harm.

The substantial public benefits (170 dwellings, 40% affordable housing, public open space, biodiversity net gain and economic benefits) were found to outweigh the less than substantial harm to the Hanwell Conservation Area under the paragraph 208 test, and collectively to outweigh the moderate landscape harm, limited BMV land harm and heritage harm under both the tilted balance and a flat section 38(6) balance, tipping decisively in favour of granting permission.