The latest vision for Crab Hill, located in the northeast of the town, has been submitted by the developer, Vistry Homes Limited, to the Vale of White Horse District Council. The plans encompass the construction of 116 homes, sparking concerns among local residents about parking facilities. One local resident described the proposed parking provisions as “appalling.”
The development scheme received approval from planning officers who utilized delegated powers for the decision-making process. Previously, outline planning permission was granted for 669 homes on the Crab Hill site, with specific design details for various development phases currently under review.
According to the district council’s decision report, the application has been thoroughly assessed against the development plan, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and other significant planning considerations. The council has taken into account feedback from statutory and other consultees in their evaluation of the overall scheme.
The site is earmarked in the adopted local plan, with existing outline planning permission for a mixed-use development of up to 1,500 dwellings and associated uses. The current submission pertains to Reserved Matters, which have been previously approved for adjacent development parcels that are under construction. The detailed plans submitted in this application have been deemed acceptable, and approval is recommended, subject to certain conditions.
Residents, however, have raised concerns. Brenda Law, a resident of Rae Crescent, expressed her worry: “The lack of parking is appalling. It is unacceptable to have zero or one space available to apartments and houses. These dwellings require two working adults to afford them, and most families in this situation have two cars. Where will they park the additional vehicles? This situation will congest our residential road and make pedestrian pathways unsafe and unpleasant.”
James Hodgson from Wilkins Way shared a similar sentiment: “Overall, the lack of garages is somewhat disappointing, as is the general lack of parking, with all of the apartments having only one designated space each.”
The application’s planning statement contends that the reserved matters submission aligns with the key provisions of the outline permission and adheres to the policy framework governing the site. It declares that the scheme is high-quality and, in accordance with national planning policy framework advice, should be approved without delay. The masterplan reportedly offers a diverse mix of housing, including 39 percent designated as affordable housing.
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