®Planning appeal decision
Thames Farm,, Reading Road,, Shiplake, Oxfordshire, RG9 3PH
Planning appeal 3373696 at Thames Farm,, Reading Road,, Shiplake, Oxfordshire, RG9 3PH (South Oxfordshire District Council) was allowed on 29 May 2026 by Inspector Shrigley M, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether it is sufficiently demonstrated that the proposed development would not pose unacceptable risks to a local principal aquifer and public water abstraction having regard to stabilisation works, ground stability, pollution, drainage and flooding (Appeal's A and B).
for engineering operations associated with ground stabilisation works. Appeal B: APP/Q3115/W/25/3373700 Thames Farm, Reading Road, Lower Shiplake RG9 3PH
- Authority
- South Oxfordshire District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Shrigley M
- Postcode
- RG9 3PH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether it is sufficiently demonstrated that the proposed development would not pose unacceptable risks to a local principal aquifer and public water abstraction having regard to stabilisation works, ground stability, pollution, drainage and flooding (Appeal's A and B)
- The acceptability of drainage strategy details for the discharge of condition 11 (Appeal C)
- Deed of variation adequacy to secure associated affordable housing, infrastructure and mitigation (Appeal B)
What decided it
The appellant's technical evidence demonstrated that the risks to the principal aquifer, public water abstraction and drainage/flood/pollution interests could be managed to an acceptable level through planning conditions, legal agreements and statutory processes, removing the basis for SODC's reasons for refusal.
the direct benefits, including enabling much-needed new housing, outweighed the negative impacts (including carbon emissions and minor environmental harm), with no considerations of sufficient weight to resist the appeals
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- CSEN1CSQ3G2C9D1EP4ENV12DES7ENV5INF1TRANS4TRANS5EP3ENV1CF5H2T5
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 61Paragraph 11Paragraph 57
- Judgments
- Medina Borough Council vs Proberun Ltd; Court of Appeal (Glidewell, Stuart-Smith L.JJ. and Sir David Croom-Johnson): May 15, 1990
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 appliedThe decision letter
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What an account adds to this decision
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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.