Inquiry into Conflicting Housing Proposals on Allocated Oxfordshire Site
Planning and Environment, Local Government
This week Josef Cannon KC is instructed in a two-week planning inquiry into appeals against the refusal of two parallel schemes for the development of land outside Oxford.
The appeal site is allocated for residential development in the adopted Local Plan, and the landowners have promoted two schemes involving new homes, a care home and associated development: one of those, for 76 homes, is the subject of pragmatic agreement between all those concerned and is considered by the local planning authority to merit planning permission.
The larger scheme, for 121 homes, gives rise to three main objections, all arising from the additional number of homes proposed on the site: the effect on the character and appearance of land to the north of the site, the layout and quality of the design within the site, and the effect on the rare and protected Barbastelle bat, on account of light spill from development at the northern edge of the site along the Bayswater Brook.
Josef acts for the local planning authority, South Oxfordshire District Council, instructed by Vivien Williams.
The Inspector has agreed to pause the inquiry on Friday in order for the advocates to attend the funeral of Jonathan Easton KC, who is already sorely missed.
