Outline plans for up to 130 homes in Bloxham have been emphatically approved by councillors in Cherwell.
William Davis Homes’ fiercely-opposed plans to develop a 7.8-hectare agricultural site to the south of the village, bounded by South Newington Road and Barford Road, faced considerable opposition from members of Cherwell District Council’s planning committee at its May 15 meeting.
But, without a five-year land supply, members of the committee followed officers’ recommendation and voted in favour of the development, many of them reluctantly.
Chair Cllr Barry Wood warned members that the agenda stated the scheme will not have a significant adverse impact on landscape, highways, flood risk and drainage and that the developer has committed to contributions towards infrastructure and affordable homes (35 per cent).
He went on: “Essentially, not having a five-year housing land supply trumps nearly everything – that is what it boils down to. There is also the point that, with these kind of any big applications, where a lot of money has been tied up by the applicant, were it to be refused – contrary to officer advice contrary to the points that I’ve just summarised – then it is likely that the applicant would appeal.
“And you don’t have to be a genius to figure out what the (Planning) Inspectorate would probably say with current Government guidelines. And it is also possible, because we’ve seen it before, were we to lose an at appeal, we would pick up the other side’s costs as well as our own.”
Members voted in favour by 11 to zero with six abstentions.
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