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Dismissed29 May 20253351969

Land North of Woodstock Road, Charlbury, OX7 3EX

Planning appeal 3351969 at Land North of Woodstock Road, Charlbury, OX7 3EX (West Oxfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 29 May 2025 by Inspector Thandi B, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area including the Cotswolds National Landscape (NL).

Residential development comprising 28 dwellings (inc. 50% affordable housing), provision of public open space and landscaping, demolition of existing garages and provision of new garaging, a vehicular access via Woodstock Road and pedestrian access to Hughes Close together with associated works

Authority
West Oxfordshire District Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Hearing
Development
residential · Major dwellings
Inspector
Thandi B

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area including the Cotswolds National Landscape (NL)
  • Whether the proposal would be acceptable in terms of design and layout
  • Whether the proposal would provide satisfactory living conditions for future occupiers
  • Whether the proposal would preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Charlbury Conservation Area (CCA)
  • The effect of the proposal upon the living conditions of the occupiers of 36 Little Lees with regard to light and outlook

What decided it

The cumulative harm from poor design and layout, unsatisfactory living conditions for future occupiers, and significant harm to the living conditions of the occupiers of 36 Little Lees, taken with the conflict with the most important development plan policies, was found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing and affordable housing delivery.

The identified adverse impacts (poor design/layout, harm to future occupiers' living conditions, significant harm to neighbouring occupiers, and landscape/heritage harm) were found to significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing and biodiversity gains, so the tilted balance under paragraph 11(d)(ii) tipped against the proposal.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy EH1Policy HE2Policy OS2Policy OS4Policy H2Policy BC1Policy EH9Policy EH10
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 189Paragraph 190Paragraph 215Paragraph 78Paragraph 11
Judgments
Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin); Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment [JPL, 1982, P37]; Monkhill Ltd V SSHCLG & Waverley Borough Council [2019] EWHC 1993 (Admin)

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in West Oxfordshire

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.