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Dismissed2 September 20266009103

46 Market Square, Witney, OX28 6AL

Planning appeal 6009103 at 46 Market Square, Witney, OX28 6AL (West Oxfordshire) was dismissed on 2 September 2026 by Inspector J J Evans, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the scheme upon the character and appearance of the area and upon the host building, having particular regard to whether it would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area, and preserve listed buildings, their settings, and any features of special architectural or historic interest they possess.

Change of use of an existing single storey building (Long Barn) from commercial use to a single dwelling and side extension

Authority
West Oxfordshire
Appeal type
other · Planning listed building and conservation area
Procedure
Written
Development
residential
Inspector
J J Evans
Postcode
OX28 6AL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • The effect of the scheme upon the character and appearance of the area and upon the host building, having particular regard to whether it would preserve the character and appearance of the conservation area, and preserve listed buildings, their settings, and any features of special architectural or historic interest they possess
  • The effect upon future occupiers, having particular regard to outlook, light levels, overlooking, noise and disturbance
  • The effect upon protected species
  • The effect of the change of use upon the vitality and viability of the town centre

What decided it

The substantial harms to the listed buildings and conservation area from the incongruous extension, combined with unacceptable living conditions for future occupiers and failure to demonstrate economic non-viability of the commercial use, outweighed the benefits of providing an additional dwelling in a sustainable location.

The benefits of housing delivery and efficient use of land in a sustainable location were outweighed by the substantial harms to the listed buildings, conservation area, biodiversity, town centre vitality and viability, and significant harms to the living conditions of future occupiers.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy H2Policy OS2Policy OS4Policy EH9Policy EH10Policy EH11Policy EH12Policy EH16Policy EH3Policy E1Policy EH8

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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in West Oxfordshire

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Allowed13 October 20266004776
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  2. Allowed9 September 20266007705
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  3. Dismissed2 September 20266009101
    46, Market Square, Witney, OX28 6AL
  4. Allowed6 September 20243341293
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  5. Allowed23 August 20243333133
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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.

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.