Appeal Success for Seven New Homes in Cotswold AONB

Appeal Success for Seven New Homes in Cotswold AONB.

This successful planning appeal will transform a disused garage site in Leafield, Oxfordshire into a residential development of seven high-quality homes.

The project will make the best possible use of this brownfield site, with seven carefully designed homes in Cotswold-facing stone. Working closely with our network of specialists our application, and subsequent appeal statements, presented a scheme that respects the site’s setting and addresses concerns raised by the council.

Overcoming Planning Challenges

SF Planning’s role was pivotal in overcoming the key barriers to approval:

Landscape: The site’s sensitive location in the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) required a careful approach to design. Our strategy demonstrated how the scheme would enhance the area’s character by replacing existing incongruous structures with homes that complement the village’s charm.
Ecology: Updated ecological assessments provided comprehensive safeguards for wildlife, satisfying previous objections.
Flood Risk and Drainage: A robust surface water management strategy demonstrated the developer’s commitment to sustainable and practical solutions.

Delivering Public Benefits

The Inspector recognised that the scheme aligns with sustainable development principles and makes an important contribution to local housing needs. Key benefits include:

Helping address West Oxfordshire’s housing land supply shortfall.
A £71,000 contribution towards affordable housing provision.
Boosting the local economy through construction jobs and increased local spending.

Strategic Planning

In addition to the appeal process, our team supported the client with a second application for the site, in order to achieve the best result possible. This application reduced the number of homes to five and was approved by the Local Planning Authority.

This appeal success is another great example of the importance of a balanced approach to planning applications and appeals. Our team’s planning expertise enables us to achieve our clients’ goals while respecting and enhancing sensitive locations.

The result is a project which will strengthen a community while, maintaining the character and charm that define the village of Leafield.

For more information about this appeal success for Seven New Homes in Cotswold AONB, please contact Paul Jenkins or Gary Dickens