®Planning appeal decision
Land Off the B480, Chalgrove, OX49 5BA
Outline planning application for the erection of up to 160 dwellings including affordable housing, with public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage system (SuDS) and vehicular access. All matters reserved except for means of access
- Authority
- South Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Dawe A
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development in terms of the Council's spatial strategy; and access to local services, facilities and public transport
- the effect of the proposed development on the provision of local primary school education
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- the situation in respect of local housing land supply (HLS)
- other related planning matters, including any benefits of the proposed development to be weighed in the planning balance
What decided it
The significant shortfall in the Council's five-year housing land supply engaged the tilted balance, and the identified harms did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the very significant benefits of the housing (including affordable housing) delivered.
The limited harm to access to services, moderate harm to primary school provision, moderate harm to character and appearance, and limited harm from loss of potential BMVAL were outweighed by the very significant benefits of delivering up to 160 dwellings including 40% affordable housing in the context of a significant shortfall in 5-year housing land supply, such that the adverse impacts did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits under paragraph 11(d)(ii) of the Framework.
Framework references: 78, 11, 14, 115, 187
Plan policies cited: Policy STRAT1, Policy H1, Policy C1 (CNDP), Policy DES1, Policy TRANS2, Policy TRANS5, Policy TRANS4, Policy INF1, Policy ENV1, Policy DES7, Policy H9, Policy CF5, Policy EP3, Policy ENV3
Judgments cited: Ivan Crane v SoSCLG and Harborough District Council [2015] EWHC 425 (Admin); Edith Weston Parish Council v SoSHCLG and Rutland County Council [2025] EWHC 2908 (Admin)
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.