The Planning Inspectorate has upheld the appeal against the refusal for outline permission for up to 40 dwellings with associated landscaping, open space and vehicular access off Berry Hill Road (all matters reserved other than access) and permission is now granted. Please click here for a copy of the decision notice.
NICK FENNELL
This is extremely disappointing in that it seems to cast our Neighbourhood Plan and its settlement boundary as something that happened more than 3 years ago and can now be ignored:
41. While the proposal would conflict with Policy AD1 of the NP, it is more than three years since the NP became part of the development plan. With reference to paragraph 14 of the Framework, this limits the weight which the conflict with NP Policy AD1 carries.
The NP is supposed to last until 2031 or at least until the CDC local plan has to change – has it had to change already??
Will developers see this as a loophole to go for other sites outside of the settlement boundary??
What’s the Parish council’s view?
Chris Wardley
The inspector’s decision includes the following “”As a result of the housing land supply shortfall, the policies referred to earlier in this decision, which are those most important for determining the appeal, are out of date. Consequently the tilted balance, under the terms of paragraph 11 of the Framework, is engaged. This tells us that planning permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies of the Framework as a whole.”
As and when that happens it is open house for developers.
Susan Boothenwood
The Last View of the Church? “Adderbury Church Spire for Strength”
Are parishioners prepared to say goodbye forever to the last remaining, uninterrupted view upon entering West Adderbury of our historic St Mary’s Church?
Since the 13th century residents of Adderbury and those just passing through have admired and valued the wonderful sight of our parish church standing strong, nestled in the bowl of the village and surrounded by the conservation area.
We are now faced with the prospect of losing this sight from the last remaining, clear vantage point upon entering West Adderbury from the Oxford Road.
Developers are appealing the decision to refuse a large housing development of 40 homes on Berry Hill Road. Although the plans make an allowance for a narrow partial view of the church to remain this will forever alter the vista and obscure the view permanently for future generations.
We can also be sure from recent housing developments in Adderbury that developers will have left room on the site for future additions, so even this partial view would be lost sooner rather than later.
Have the meagre and transient gifts in the form of Section 106 funds being offered in return blindsided us to the true value of what we are giving up so cheaply for generations to come?