Land at Bishopswood Camp, Gallowstree Road, Sonning Common, RG4 9BT

1no. gypsy pitch with dayroom associated parking, access and services (demolition of existing buildings)

Authority: South Oxfordshire
Appeal type: Planning
Procedure: Written
Development: gypsy-gypsy
Postcode: RG4 9BT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to the Chilterns National Landscape

What decided it

The significant harm to the character and appearance of the Chilterns National Landscape caused by the introduction of new structures and residential activity, which would not be outweighed by the benefits of contributing to gypsy and traveller provision and other material considerations.

the important benefits of gypsy and traveller provision, economic benefit, biodiversity gains and use of previously developed land, attracting moderate weight, did not outweigh the significant harm to the landscape character and nationally designated landscape, to which significant weight was given

Framework references: 11

Plan policies cited: Policy ENV1, Policy H14, Policy RENV2

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.