Background
Our client sought planning permission for up to 150 low-carbon sustainable new homes alongside new parkland and football pitches in Chesterton, on the edge of Bicester in Oxfordshire, within a council area which graduated from Conservative to no overall control during the planning timescale.
Challenge
Our clients undertook various pre-app meetings with Cherwell District Council who were supportive, albeit this did not translate in the paperwork. Drainage was highlighted as a technical issue and Chesterton was a category A village with no neighbourhood plan. Nearby a new sports centre and US led Great Wolf Resort were approved on appeal.
Solution
- SP Broadway met with residents and political / community leaders to communicate a positive vision for the new homes, new parkland and football pitches being proposed, and to understand local views in light of extensive other development in the local area, just off the M40 Oxford-Birmingham corridor.
- SP Broadway organised a public exhibition for residents, which was attended by approximately 72 people, including two Parish councillors. The key points that repeatedly came up in the feedback included pavements and walking, provision of a village shop, roads, primary school places, cycle lanes and public transport. We also created a website to invite online feedback.
- We informed residents of the public exhibition and online consultation by posting a notification letter to 437 addresses in the immediate vicinity after discussions with officers and ward members on the radius of invitees.
- To build support for the proposals, we met with the Chairman of Chesterton Football Club. Discussions were positive and the Chairman highlighted that further improvements to the Pavilion, parking spaces, football pitches and a potential tennis court would be beneficial to the local community, and likely help build support.
- SP Broadway compiled a Statement of Community Involvement outlining the process of engagement which was submitted in conjunction with the planning application.
Result
A planning application was submitted on 16th January 2023. The application was refused in July 2023. Subsequently, an appeal was submitted, and planning permission was granted in May 2024, the Inspector agreed the new homes were in compliance with the development plan, and ‘material considerations’ did not indicate the Inspector should decide other than in accordance with the development plan.
