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Planning appeal decision

Dismissed30 December 20253367995

Thames Valley Police Station, Hensington Road, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1JQ

Planning appeal 3367995 at Thames Valley Police Station, Hensington Road, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1JQ (West Oxfordshire District Council) was dismissed on 30 December 2025 by Inspector Redford R, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the local area.

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
Postcode
OX20 1JQ

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.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
OS2OS4H2H3T2T3OS5EH9EH10EH11
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 61Paragraph 63Paragraph 212Paragraph 213Paragraph 215Paragraph 216
Judgments
Bernard Wheatcroft Ltd v SSE 1982; Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney 2018

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

  1. Dismissed29 October 20266014990
    2 Viner Close, Witney, OX28 1EP
  2. Allowed13 October 20266004776
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  3. Notice varied and upheld18 September 20263358009
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  4. Allowed9 September 20266007705
    Forge Garage, Church Road, Churchill, OX7 6NJ
  5. Dismissed2 September 20266009103
    46 Market Square, Witney, OX28 6AL

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.