Fresh plans have been lodged to build new homes in a south Oxfordshire village despite concerns the area is already “massively overdeveloped”, and schools and doctors are “grossly oversubscribed”.
Applicant BHK Icknield would like to introduce nine additional houses towards the eastern end of Lower Icknield Way in Chinnor and demolish one existing home.
South Oxfordshire District Council has earmarked a target decision date of 18 July, and the developer says the proposals are in line with the Chinnor Neighbourhood Plan.
A total of 19 new car parking spaces and 18 cycle spaces also form part of the plan.
Lower Icknield Way, Chinnor
But objector and Hunters Point resident Pamela Jean Coull said: “This application is nothing more than a repeat of this developer’s speculative disregard for the needs of existing residents of the village and potential buyers of any houses built on this site.
“Previous applications have been refused as this land is not identified in the Local Neighbourhood Plan.
“Chinnor has already been massively overdeveloped and services and utilities cannot provide for existing development let alone the substantial number of properties that already have planning permission but are still to be built out.”
Cowleaze resident Diane Cutler added: “Many houses on current developments within the village are still for sale, so I cannot see the need for more houses.
“The schools and doctors within the village are already grossly oversubscribed.
“Although one surgery is linked to other sites, these other towns have seen substantial extra development, too, resulting in even less availability for appointments.
“It is a similar situation with schools. Local wildlife is struggling immensely with the huge reduction in available space to survive.
“This has a huge impact in local wildlife survival.”
A statement from BHK Icknield said: “The site is located in the built-up larger village of Chinnor, within the settlement boundary as shown in the made Neighbourhood Plan.
“The development of the site would not extend the built limits of the settlement and would be contained within the existing residential development in the area.
“The principle of development is in accordance with both the Local Plan and the Neighbourhood Plan.
“Furthermore, the council cannot demonstrate a five-year land supply at this time, and therefore, the tilted balance applies, meaning that planning permission should be granted unless the adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.
“The form, density and appearance of the proposed development is in keeping with the character and appearance of the area and all technical matters relating to drainage, trees, ecology, landscaping, access and parking have been satisfactorily addressed.”
The site contains a mix of types of homes, with three pairs of semi-detached dwellings and four detached dwellings.
