100-home housing scheme at Land East Of Barford Road, Bloxham

“The application site is located on the south-eastern side of Bloxham and comprises two parcels of land extending to 5.48ha. Both parcels are separated by a mature hedge and tree lines and are currently used for the grazing of livestock with an existing agricultural barn located in the south-western corner of the northern parcel. There is an existing vehicular access point off Barford Road opposite Maule Close. To the north of the site is Bloxham Mill Business Centre.”

“LPA Ref; 02/031/REM. Reserved matters application in conjunction with outline application for the erection of 1x agricultural dwelling and garage. Approved 13 th…”

“LPA Ref; 08/00645/OUT. Outline planning application for the erection of new warehouse buildings and associated office accommodation and provision of new highway access to the site. (Land to the south of the application site.) Application withdrawn. 28 th April 2008.”

“To achieve this objective it is clear that sites in sustainable locations should be considered for development. The Cherwell Local Plan Proposals Map does not identify settlement boundaries. There is no reference to a settlement boundary within the adopted Bloxham Neighbourhood Plan either.”

“I do not consider that the adverse impacts of granting consent in advance of the Neighbourhood Plan having been found sound or adopted would significantly or demonstrably outweigh the benefits. This is in the context of housing numbers not being minimum numbers, the reference in the NPPF to significantly boost the supply of homes (Paragraph 61) and identified need for affordable housing in the adopted Local Plan (See paragraph A.19).”

“Following the consultation 69 objections have been received, and 24 comments of support have been received. The comments raised by third parties are summarised as follows:”

“Concerns over the highways impact of vehicles entering and existing onto Barford Road. • Existing vehicle congestion in and around Bloxham • Ability for surrounding infrastructure to accommodate further development including strain on doctors’ surgery’s, dentists and schools. • The need for further housing development in Bloxham.”

“(i) The conditions set out below (and any amendments to those conditions as deemed necessary); and the inclusion of an additional condition as requested by Thames Water the wording of which will be agreed with the applicant.”

“(ii) The entering into a section 106 legal agreement to include the contributions and infrastructure (as set out in the Annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) (and any amendments to those conditions as deemed necessary) including reference to the need for the open space on the southern parcel of site to remain as open space in perpetuity.”

“(2) It was further resolved that if the section 106 agreement/undertaking was not completed within 6 months of this resolution and the permission was not able to be issued by this date and no extension of time had been agreed between the parties, the Assistant Director Planning be given delegated authority to refuse the application for the following reason:”

“In the absence of a satisfactory unilateral undertaking or any other form of Section 106 legal agreement the Local Planning Authority is not satisfied that the proposed development provides for appropriate infrastructure contributions and provisions required as a result of the development and necessary to make the impacts of the development acceptable in planning terms, to the detriment of both existing and proposed residents and contrary to contrary to Policies BSC3, BSC10,…”