Developer Rectory Homes proposed a housing development on land near Chain Hill Road on the outskirts of Wantage. However, the Vale of White Horse planning officers denied the application using delegated powers.
In a decision report released on Christmas Eve, it was noted: “The council maintains a five-year land supply, and the housing policies in the development plan are fully enforced. This proposal conflicts with the development plan.” It was further clarified: “The ‘tilted’ balance does not apply. There are no material considerations to justify a decision contrary to the development plan.”
The report emphasized that according to the national planning policy framework (NPPF), planning permission should not be granted when applications conflict with an up-to-date development plan, as is the case here. The development principle was deemed unacceptable, resulting in denial of permission.
Although the proposal promised benefits such as employment opportunities during construction and increased investment in the local and wider economy, as well as potential social benefits from housing and affordable housing, significant concerns were raised. These included landscape and visual harm, encroachment onto the countryside, inappropriate housing mix, poor design quality, and insufficient pedestrian connectivity and vehicular access.
Wantage Town Council, along with 13 residents, voiced objections to the scheme. Ann Moore from Humphries Green expressed concern about the site’s location outside the Wantage settlement boundary, its impact on existing views, and potential effects on neighboring gardens and houses due to its position on a sloping hill. She highlighted that the OX12 area’s infrastructure is already overburdened, negating the need for additional housing.
Jason Brockbank-Gash, also from Humphries Green, emphasized that the benefits of the development favored only those financially profiting from it, dismissing the project as unnecessary given the availability of more suitable land nearby. He stressed that the development imposed multiple negatives on Wantage residents, highlighting objections based on local impact.
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