Plans submitted for Southam Road homes
Plans to build more than 850 homes along Banbury’s Southam Road have been submitted to Cherwell District Council.
Two outline applications to build the homes on land close to Banbury Crematorium were received by the council from applicant Rapleys LLP last Wednesday.
Proposed development along the road and near the Hanwell Fields site has previously been met with fierce opposition, and Malcolm Finch, chairman of the Hanwell Fields Development Action Group (HFDAG), said: “It is very early days at the moment as the plans have just been submitted to the council. But as with all the applications near Hanwell Fields, we will be opposing this one as well.
“We hope that these plans do not go ahead as it will have such a big impact on the visual scenery in Banbury, it will be visible from some parts of the town and have a detrimental effect on traffic.”
The first application on land adjoining Foxhill and west of Southam Road would look to build 370 residential homes, with associated spaces, landscaping/open space, parking and related works.
The land would cover an area of about 17 hectares or about 16 football pitches.
The second proposal on Hardwick Farm, east of Southam Road, comprises 510 residential units, a primary school with associated access, landscaping/open space and parking. This area would cover an area of about 25 hectares or 23 football pitches.
In the past year, HFDAG has fought against two previous proposals on land near Hanwell Fields, including one for 300 homes off Warwick Road and 380 on land north of Dukes Meadow Drive.
Mr Finch said: “We have seen an increase in the number of people that want to join our group and it seems like there is wave after wave of applications being submitted to the council.
“There are two sites on Bankside and Canalside which have been approved, and nothing has been done – so until work starts on those I don’t see why more applications should start coming through.”
Hardwick Farm has been earmarked for development in Cherwell District Council’s Local Plan, which outlines suitable locations for new homes in and around Banbury. The document states: “The development area east and west of the Southam Road is located in a sustainable location, close to existing employment uses. Residential development of approximately 800 dwellings will be permitted across the two areas, provided it can be demonstrated that high quality design has been applied to address the potential landscape/visual impact issues.”
Robert Clarke, head of town planning at Rapleys, said: “The applications are the product of 12 months collaborative working with officers at Cherwell District Council.
“They are consistent with the Local Plan which promotes residential led development at Southam Road. The proposals will, therefore, realise council policy.”
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Banbury
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 5 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: South west
