Store And Premises Linch Hill Stanton Harcourt Oxfordshire

1. 1.Insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the existing site is not capable of being used or redeveloped for employment uses and no substantial community benefits would be achieved by the proposed development, therefore it is contrary to Policy E1 of the West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031.
2. 2.The development site is located in the in the open countryside as per the settlement hierarchy, the proposed development does not meet any of the exceptions set out in the Local Plan that would permit a new dwelling in such a location. The proposed development therefore would introduce a new dwelling in an unsustainable location contrary to Policies H2, OS1 and OS2 of the adopted West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031 and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.
3. 3.The proposed development is poor design that would appear as an incongruous and domesticating feature of a substantial scale and mass, that will harm the character and appearance of the area. The proposed development would therefore be contrary to Policies OS2, OS4 and EH2 of the adopted West Oxfordshire Local Plan 2031, the West Oxfordshire Design Guide and the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.
4. 4.Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate that the proposed development will be acceptable in terms of contaminated land, as such the application is contrary to Policies EH2, EH8 and the NPPF (2024).
5. 5.Insufficient information has been submitted to demonstrate the proposal will not result in significant harm to protected species as insufficient surveys and details have been submitted to ensure that impacts on protected species are minimised or adequately compensated. A NatureSpace Report or Certificate has not been submitted to NatureSpace Partnership to allow for a relevant license to be granted in relation tp Great Crested Newts. Therefore, the proposal does not comply with the requirements of the Local Plan policy West Oxfordshire District's Local Plan Policy EH3. Furthermore, the Local Planning Authority is unable to fully assess the proposals in the light of the three derogation tests, as described in the ODPM Circular 06/2005 and The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended), preventing the Local Planning Authority from discharging its statutory duty with regards to European protected bat species.

From the council's decision notice.

Application type

Full Application

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Stanton Harcourt

Date validated

25 March 2026

Last date for comments

30 April 2026

Agent

Insight Planning Services

Agent address

Witney Business And Innovation Centre Windrush House Windrush Park Road Windrush Industrial Park Witney Oxfordshire OX29 7DX

Planning Portal ID

PP-14779004

Documents

29