Public inquiry into M40 warehouse planning refusal
Appeals for three giant warehouses are set to go to public inquiry later this month amid a five year planning battle over the controversial development.
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Appeals for three giant warehouses are set to go to public inquiry later this month amid a five year planning battle over the controversial development.
Plans for the ‘logistics development ‘, including a new entrance onto the B4100, offices and a power plant, on agricultural land at M40 junction 10, Baynards Green, near Bicester.
The three applications set for inquiry make up the 10-building development plan, which is around the size of 80 football pitches, and were all refused by Cherwell District Council in January of this year.
They were refused amid a range of concerns including “the unjustified urbanisation of a currently open and rural site, introducing built form of significant scale, bulk and massing that would appear visually intrusive within the wider landscape” according to a decision notice.
Since then, the authority has been stripped of its power over major planning applications by central government, after it breached a government threshold of refusals being overturned by the central planning inspectorate.
A spokesperson for the council has since revealed that it will not be giving evidence when this decision goes before the planning inspector following “legal and professional advice.”
The deputy leader said: “The decision not to actively defend the refusals at appeal has not been taken lightly."
“Following detailed legal and professional advice, the council has had to consider not only the strength of local opposition but also the likelihood of successfully defending the reasons for refusal."
“Regrettably, the evidence available to the council is not considered strong enough to provide a realistic prospect of success at appeal.”
Appeal inquiry over the three applications is expected to last for up to 18 sitting days, starting Tuesday, 22 September, at 10am.
It will be held at the district council’s council chamber and is open for members of the public to attend and, at the inspector’s discretion, express their views.
This link for live streaming will be available on the webpage created for this appeal.
There had been a significant response to the proposals, with over 500 objections made.
Neighbour Clive Hockley described the plan as an “abomination”.
Tiggy Atkinson said: “This area is open countryside and the proposed development would significantly change the characteristics of the area and local vicinity.”
They added: “The roadways are already heavily congested at peak travel times."
“The proposals suggest improved road networks but with the significantly increased traffic, there will be reason for traffic to divert using local road arteries for cut-throughs."
“The network of local roads are mostly single-track roads – the effect being significant congestion in rural areas. Large scale industrial developments should be supported in appropriate areas and not come at the cost of local residents and habitat.”