265 homes with crossing at Land Between Upavon Way And Northwood Crescent, Carterton

What was proposed

The application proposed 265 homes, landscaping, parking, infrastructure, public open space and access from Northwood Crescent with a new signalised crossing.

“Application Details: Residential development for 265 dwellings including landscaping, car parking, infrastructure, public open space and associated works; and vehicular access via Northwood Crescent including a signalised crossing across Upavon Way replacing the existing underpass.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site comprised modified grassland, developed land, hardstanding, trees and hedgerows, near a leisure centre and surrounded by residential development.

“The site lies in a sustainable location within Carterton, a Main Service Centre. Upavon Way lies to the south of the application site and Northwood Crescent runs around the northern, eastern and western boundaries of the site. To the east is Carterton Leisure Centre and residential dwellings lie to the north, west and south. The existing site primarily comprises modified grassland, developed land (hardstanding) and individual trees/hedgerows.”

“The site is allocated for housing in the adopted West Oxfordshire Local Plan (WOLP, 2031), known as 'REEMA North and Central' (policy CA1) and the site is included in the WODC 2019 Brownfield Register as previously developed land that is suitable for housing development.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the site sustainable and allocated for housing, with affordable homes, open space, infrastructure and other benefits outweighing demonstrable harms.

“Furthermore, in considering that the recommended contributions and other improvement works are being secured via the legal agreement and conditions listed below, your officers are of the opinion that the development would be sustainable and provide an integrated community that forms a positive addition to Carterton.”

“Additional benefits include the new areas of public open space including plays areas, improvements to off-site highway infrastructure through the provision of a signalised crossing along Upavon Way and closure of the existing underpass, enhanced mature landscape boundaries to create and enhance existing habitats, a net biodiversity gain, carbon ready homes to reduce carbon outputs from the site, the creation of temporary construction jobs, indirect jobs during the…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A representative of Taylor Wimpey and a lieutenant colonel spoke in support, highlighting housing needs for service personnel, their families and local families.

The vote and decision

Members unanimously approved the application subject to clarifying the road safety audit, flooding and infiltration, completing agreements and revising the leisure contribution wording.

“It was proposed by Councillor Michele Mead and seconded by Councillor Nick Leverton that the application be approved as per the officer recommendations subject to: clarification regarding the road safety audit, the flooding and infiltration; delegated authority to officer to amend the conditions set out within the report (without changing their intention) and securing the S106 and 278 agreements; to update wording for S106 leisure contribution to include a cascade rather…”

Minutes