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Dismissed2 September 20253360314

42 -48 Queens Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3NQ

Planning appeal 3360314 at 42 -48 Queens Road, Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 3NQ (South Oxfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 2 September 2025 by Inspector Townend K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would affect the character and appearance of the area with regard to the mix and density of housing, including affordable housing, and the appearance of the affordable housing.

demolition of 44 Queens Road and the outbuildings to Nos. 42. Proposed erection of 22 dwellinghouses (including 8 affordable homes) with gardens, car parking, garages, bin stores, and new estate road access. Closure of access onto Queens Road serving 46 Queens Road and re-arranged access off new estate road. Provision of garden area to 46 Queens Road. Re-arranged access to 42 Queens Road off new estate road and erection of new garage for No. 42

Authority
South Oxfordshire District Council
Appeal type
major · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Major dwellings
Inspector
Townend K
Postcode
OX9 3NQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the proposed development would affect the character and appearance of the area with regard to the mix and density of housing, including affordable housing, and the appearance of the affordable housing
  • whether the proposed development would provide sufficient and appropriately sited open space
  • whether the proposed development would secure appropriate levels of affordable housing and contributions towards infrastructure
  • whether the proposed development would affect highway safety, with particular regard to the provision of car parking and pedestrian safety, and would promote alternative means of travel
  • whether the proposed development would comply with national planning policy which seeks to steer new development away from areas at the highest risk of flooding

What decided it

The substantial harm to character and appearance of the area from the density, layout and distinguishable clustering of affordable housing, combined with the substantial shortfall in provision of appropriate open space, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing delivery.

The benefits of boosting housing supply and providing affordable housing and economic benefits were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the substantial environmental harm to character and appearance and the substantial environmental and social harm from inadequate open space provision.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy H9Policy H11Policy DES1Policy DES2Policy DES3Policy DES4Policy ENV1Policy ENV5Policy CF5Policy INF1Policy EP3Policy EP4Policy TRANS2Policy TRANS5Policy GDH2
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11

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.

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The decision letter

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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.

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