The plan, proposed by McCarthy and Stone Retirement, aimed to develop 44 flats on a plot at Crab Hill situated north of the A417 and east of the A338. This development was to include communal facilities and parking as part of the wider Crab Hill scheme.
However, the proposal was declined by the Vale of White Horse District Council’s planning officers due to the developer’s failure to meet required financial contributions. The proposal stirred controversy, attracting 24 objection letters, including one from Wantage Town Council. Many locals expressed dissatisfaction as they anticipated the land to be used for a new pub.
The appeal statement contested that the financial contributions suggested by the council were inflated. It argued, “The assumptions underlying the council’s position are unreasonable and unwarranted, particularly regarding the benchmark land value. The developer believes the contributions currently sought by the council are unjustified in terms of development viability.”
Responding to objections about the loss of a potential pub, the statement continued, “While the site was initially earmarked for a pub, it was not a concrete land allocation as market demand was lacking for the approved use.”
An objector to the scheme, Rajan Sanhotra from Cherry Croft, stated, “I strongly oppose this plan as it does not meet residents’ needs. With a growing population, we require more communal amenities, not retirement homes. It’s frustrating to see a shift away from a promised pub to proposed homes.”
The appeal argued that the development would benefit the local housing market. It mentioned, “The plan will energize the local housing market as residents move into the scheme, thus vacating larger family homes. This recycling process is beneficial as recognized in planning, social, and housing policies, and it will lead to increased usage of local shops and services.”
The movement of residents into new apartments, or others into vacated homes, is expected to bring economic benefits to various local businesses, from conveyancers to carpet suppliers, through the housing chain.
Explore local businesses and events or create a free business profile in our [business directory](https://wantage.com/directory/). If you represent a local business, consider [submitting a listing](https://wantage.com/submit-listing/) and actively engaging with the community through our platform.
