Cherwell District Council is taking legal advice after four major planning applications were approved on appeal and in line with the recommendations of the inspector who held the linked inquiries.
Councillors had initially refused applications to develop 145 homes off Salt Way in Banbury, 70 dwellings in Hook Norton, and two separate applications for 75 and 85 homes in Bloxham.
In each case the ministerial decision letter cited the absence of a proven five-year supply of housing land. Although Community Secretary Eric Pickles acknowledged that the schemes were in conflict with the planning authority’s latest housing land availability figures, he argued that as these had not been the subject of independent analysis, they were likely to change. ‘Little weight can therefore be attached to these considerations,’ said the decision letter.
The minister accepted that the schemes would ‘cause some limited and localised harm to the character and appearance of the countryside’ but concluded this would not ‘significantly or demonstrably outweigh the benefits’ of the schemes when assessed against the policies set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Councillor Michael Gibbard, the council’s lead member for planning said Cherwell District Council was taking expert legal advice and if appropriate would take action.
He said: ‘We are confident that we now have the necessary five-year land supply following approval of other major planning applications.’
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