Cherwell councillors reject more homes in Adderbury

The proposal by Rosconn Group Ltd sought to build the homes on 3.5 hectares of agricultural land to the south of Milton Road, beyond the existing limits of the village.

This, along with other significant factors, resulted in the planning meeting at Bodicote House agreeing with an officer recommendation for refusal.

Councillor Michael Gibbard, lead member for planning, said: “The site is currently an open field used for agriculture, beyond the existing limits of Adderbury. The proposal was to build up to 50 homes in open countryside.

“The council took account the amount of new housing development already planned to take place in Adderbury, and Cherwell’s ability to demonstrate an up-to-date five year housing land supply. As such we considered this development unnecessary, undesirable and unsustainable and we believed it would have harmed the character of the village.”

The application also lacked a satisfactory Section 106 Agreement to secure contributions to the community services and infrastructure that would be directly affected by the development as well as affordable housing to meet housing need,

Councillor Gibbard added: “Given the amount of housing development already planned for Adderbury, and the lack of evidence put forward to demonstrate that there are no other preferable sites in Category A villages in the district where poorer quality agricultural land might be used.

“We considered the proposal would have resulted in an unnecessary and unjustified loss of best and most versatile agricultural land.

“Added to this the siting, scale, appearance and relationship with the existing adjacent development meant the proposal would have caused significant, unacceptable harm to the rural landscape and character around Milton Road and the existing public right of way.”

For more on the application visit the planning page at www.cherwell.gov.uk using the reference number 15/02359/OUT