A housing development of 95 homes in Sonning Common cannot go ahead after a planning inspector rejected an appeal by the developer.
South Oxfordshire District Council originally rejected the planning application for a development off Kennylands Road for a number of reasons, including the proposed development would harm the character and appearance of the local countryside, and because it wasn’t consistent with the Sonning Common Neighbourhood Plan.
The developer appealed but the inspector dismissed it saying the site adds positively to the setting of the village and that the harm to this and the wider countryside would be significant if the development went ahead.
Cllr Felix Bloomfield, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “We’re delighted the inspector has agreed that this proposal would not be sustainable development and would cause harm to the character and setting of one of our attractive larger villages. I’m also very pleased he gave significant weight to the local Neighbourhood Plan, which local residents worked very hard on and continue to do so.”
ENDS
Communications
South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils
01235 422400