Hallemead House, Woodlands Road, Harpsden, RG9 4AB

the demolition of Hallemead House and its replacement with a self-build plot; the creation of two additional self-build plots; and demolition of part of the existing stables to be replaced with a new dwelling

Authority: South Oxfordshire District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Rawle S

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether or not the appeal site is an appropriate location for the proposed development having regard to the overall development strategy and development plan and national policies relating to development within rural areas
the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area

What decided it

The proposal conflicts with the development plan as the appeal site is not a suitable location for residential development in the countryside, and it would cause unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the area, with the adverse impacts significantly outweighing the moderate benefits.

The moderate benefits of housing supply, self-build provision and economic benefits were substantially outweighed by the very significant weight afforded to the conflicts with the development plan and the significant harm to character and appearance.

Framework references: 11

Plan policies cited: Policy STRAT1, Policy H1, Policy H12, Policy TRANS2, Policy ENV1, Policy H16, Policy H4 of the Joint Henley and Harpsden Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2035

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

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