®Planning appeal decision
Thames Valley Police Station, Hensington Road, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1JQ
the erection of retirement living accommodation with communal facilities, car parking, landscaping and a substation to serve the development
- Authority
- West Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Hearing
- Development
- residential · Minor retail and services
- Inspector
- Redford R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the local area
- The effect of the proposed development on the setting of designated and non-designated heritage assets
- The effect of the proposed development on the living conditions of occupants residing in Bear Close, with specific regard to privacy and outlook
- Whether the proposed development can provide adequately for affordable housing and essential supporting infrastructure
What decided it
The significant harm to the character and appearance of the local area, combined with significant harm to the privacy of neighbouring occupants at Bear Close, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of the scheme.
The less than substantial heritage harm was outweighed by the public benefits of the specialist housing and infrastructure contributions, but the significant harm to character and appearance and to neighbours' privacy meant the adverse impacts of granting permission significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits.
Framework references: 11, 61, 63, 212, 213, 215, 216
Plan policies cited: OS2, OS4, H2, H3, T2, T3, OS5, EH9, EH10, EH11
Judgments cited: Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE 1982; Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney 2018
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.