Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 59 KBVenue: Committee Room 1, Council Offices, Woodgreen, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1NB. View directions
Contact: Democratic Services
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Apologies for Absence To receive any apologies for absence from members of Sub-Committee. The quorum for the Sub-Committee is 3 members. Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Mark Walker and Councillor Adam Clements.. |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from members of the Sub-Committee on any items to be considered at the meeting. Minutes: Declarations of Interest were received as follows:
24/01177/FULL Land East of Wroslyn Road, Freeland
Councillor Roger Faulkner declared that the land subject to the application was within his ward. In addition, Councillor Faulkner declared that he had previously been the Methodist Minister for Freeland Methodist Church and although no longer involved he maintained a personal interest in the building which was adjacent to the proposed site. |
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Minutes of Previous Meeting To approve the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Monday 20 January 2025. Minutes: Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt proposed that the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 20 January 2025 be approved by the Sub-Committee. This was seconded by Councillor Andrew Beaney, was put to the vote and agreed by the Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee Resolved to: 1. Agree the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 20 January 2025. |
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Applications for Development Purpose: To consider applications for development, details of which are set out in the attached schedule.
Recommendation: That the applications be determined in accordance with the recommendations of the Head of Planning.
Additional documents: |
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24/00769/OUT Land South of Charlbury Road Minutes: Mike Cassidy, the Principal Planner, presented the application for outline permission, with all matters reserved other than principal means of access to the highway, for the construction of up to 104 residential dwellings, together with the provision of open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure.
A statement from Councillor Sandra Coleman, Mayor of Chipping Norton, was circulated to members of the Sub-Committee.
George Hayman spoke in objection to the application and raised the following points: Housing was needed but not such piecemeal ad-hoc development, the application was unsupported by infrastructure, upgrade works would be required to Thames Waters sewage treatment plant, there were concerns around noise from the shared boundary with the rifle and pistol club, The biodiversity net gain would be achieved through land other than on the site itself.
Adam Ross spoke on behalf of the applicant and raised the following points: There was a housing crisis in the District, there was an unmet housing need in Chipping Norton, the Local Plan identified Chipping Norton as a main service centre, Policy H2 stated that new dwellings would be permitted on unallocated greenfield land that adjoins a settlement, the site would deliver forty two affordable homes, there would be a significant biodiversity gain, the site was a sustainable site and outside the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Planning Officer’s presentation addressed the following points:
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24/01177/FUL Land East of Wroslyn Road Minutes: Stephanie Eldridge, the Principal Planner, presented the application for development of 78 residential dwellings (Use Class C3), allotments and site access, plus open space, drainage, landscaping and associated engineering works (reserved and additional information received).
Dawn Taylor of Friends of Freeland, and Robert Crocker, spoke in objection to the application and raised the following points: Many objections to the site had been made, the application failed on all three NPPF sustainability objectives, the plan included a sewage pump placed next to adjacent housing, there would be an impact on the outlook of heritage buildings, the site was of importance for connectivity of habitat for species survival.
Peter Foster, Chair of the Parish Council, spoke in objection to the application and raised the following points: The application was speculative development, objections were raised over issues such as: distinct green gaps that characterise the village visually and for wildlife would be lost, the development would add 13% to the population, the layout and building design was unimaginative and at odds with surrounding dwellings, the biodiversity net gain was obtained through offsite mitigation.
Frances Keenan, Planning Manager for Spitfire Homes, spoke on behalf of the applicant and raised the following points: The proposal would deliver specific and positive benefits to Freeland and West Oxfordshire, Policy OS2 of the Local Plan allowed for limited development that would respect the village character, there were no defined settlement boundaries in Policy OS2 or H2, a 13% increase was considered limited, the Council could not demonstrate a five year housing supply, less than significant harm to listed buildings, the proposal increased market and affordable housing, provided allotments, public open space and improved bus services.
At the Chair’s discretion, Councillor Liam Walker spoke in his capacity as County Councillor in objection to the application and raised the following points: A similar application had been rejected previously and concerns raised on that previous application had not been addressed, the site was unsuitable, there would be an unsustainable impact on infrastructure, the applicant has had no meaningful engagement with the community, the density and design of the application did not reflect the village character, there had been a disregard to Local Plan and principles of sustainable growth, more traffic would be introduced on Wroslyn Road and Pigeon House Lane.
The Planning Officer’s presentation addressed the following points:
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24/03161/HHD 3 Manor Road, Bladon Minutes: Nathan Harris, the Principal Planner, presented the application for a proposed single storey front extension, garage conversion and alterations.
The Planning Officer’s presentation addressed the following points:
Councillor Julian Cooper proposed approving the application. Councillor Elizabeth Poskitt seconded the proposal.
Voting record – The vote was unanimous.
The Sub-Committee Resolved to:
1. Approve the application in line with officer recommendations |
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Applications Determined under Delegated Powers Purpose: To inform the Sub-Committee of applications determined under delegated powers.
Recommendation: 1. That the report be noted by the Sub-Committee. Minutes: The report giving details of the applications determined under Delegated Powers was received, explained by the Officers and noted by the Sub-Committee. |
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Purpose: To inform the Sub-Committee of any appeal decisions.
Recommendation: 1. That the report be noted by the Sub-Committee. Minutes: The report giving details of the appeals decisions was received, explained by the Officers and noted by the Sub-Committee. |
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Progress on Enforcement Cases Purpose: To provide an update on progress in respect of priority enforcement investigations.
Recommendation: Minutes: Kelly Murray, Principal Planner (Enforcement and Appeals), introduced the report, which provided an update on progress in respect of priority enforcement investigations.
The Officer explained that a vacancy within the team had been filled which had helped with caseloads and progression of cases.
The Officer explained the current caseload and what stages various cases were at, however where certain cases were sensitive, such as those going to court, these could not be discussed in full.
The Sub-Committee requested an update from Property Services on the Unicorn House in Great Rollright. The Officer advised that she believed that this had been taken off the priority list, however the query would be raised with Property Services.
Members thanked the Officer and team for all their hard work and detailed report. |
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Blenheim Palace World Heritage Site (WHS) Purpose: To respond to the request made at the meeting of the Uplands Area Planning Sub-Committee on 13 November 2023 that planning policy officers produce a full and comprehensive report on the Blenheim World Heritage Site, with comparisons made to other World Heritage Sites, to inform the Local Plan review process.
Recommendation: 1. To note the content of the report including the proposed Officer actions listed at Paragraph 6.1.
Minutes: Chris Hargraves, Head of Planning, introduced the item the purpose of which was to respond to the request made on 13 November 2023 that Planning Policy Officers produce a report on the Blenheim World Heritage Site to inform the Local Plan review process.
The presentation made by the Head of Planning addressed the following points:
The Chair then invited the Sub-Committee to discuss the report, which raised the following points:
The Chair thanked the Officer and closed the meeting. |