®Planning appeal decision
Plot 5 and 6, Hyne Jones Field, Church Enstone, OX7 4NL
Planning appeal 6007978 at Plot 5 and 6, Hyne Jones Field, Church Enstone, OX7 4NL (West Oxfordshire) was dismissed on 24 June 2026 by Inspector P Barton, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site would be a suitable location for the proposed development, in respect of the spatial strategy in the Development Plan, and accessibility to services and facilities.
proposed development comprises the construction of eight affordable residential dwellings on Plots 5 and 6, off Cling Clang Lane, Church Enstone, West Oxfordshire. The combined plot area is 0.2 hectares, and the development is intended to meet identified local housing needs through the Rural Exception Site policy framework. The housing mix includes: 4 x 3-bedroom homes, 4 x 2-bedroom homes. Each dwelling will be provided with two allocated parking spaces, and the layout will be designed to reflect the rural character of the area, with consideration for scale, massing and integration into the surrounding landscape
- Authority
- West Oxfordshire
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- P Barton
- Postcode
- OX7 4NL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site would be a suitable location for the proposed development, in respect of the spatial strategy in the Development Plan, and accessibility to services and facilities
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
What decided it
The site's isolation from services and facilities, combined with the lack of safe and convenient pedestrian access and the unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the area, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the moderate benefits of housing delivery.
The moderate benefits of delivering 8 dwellings and associated social and economic benefits were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the significant harm arising from the site's unsuitability in terms of location, accessibility and sustainability, and the unacceptable effect on character and appearance.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- WOLP Policy OS1WOLP Policy OS2WOLP Policy H1WOLP Policy H2WOLP Policy H3WOLP Policy EH2WOLP Policy T1WOLP Policy T3
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 82Paragraph 84Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 135
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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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in West Oxfordshire
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Dismissed29 October 202660149902 Viner Close, Witney, OX28 1EP
- Allowed13 October 20266004776Land South of Ramsden, Akeman Street, Ramsden, OX7 3AY
- Notice varied and upheld18 September 20263358009Chalford Paddocks, Oxford Road, Old Chalford Chipping Norton, OX7 5QR
- Allowed9 September 20266007705Forge Garage, Church Road, Churchill, OX7 6NJ
- Dismissed2 September 2026600910346 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.