WATLINGTON - SITE A (WNDP)– APPEAL REFERENCE APP/Q3115/W/19/3222822

Watlington Parish Council was a Rule 6 party, as were an “alliance” including Pyrton Parish Council. Watlington challenged a position where District Council objections regarding Air Quality and Traffic Congestion were removed, despite being core objectives for the justification for the building of an “Edge Road”. Watlington were concerned that 183 houses could be built without the Edge Road. The developer of Site A went to Appeal, as the District Council had not determined the application in the allowed time

Inspector Tom Gilbert-Wooldridge allowed the Appeal on February 27th following an Inquiry - his Appeal Decision can be read in full here and the following are relevant extracts:

“The development would safeguard land for the Edge Road and make a sizable financial contribution towards its construction. Through the proposed removal of on-street parking on Couching Street and Shirburn Street, the development would help to improve journey times and traffic congestion particularly in peak hours until the Edge Road is delivered. As a consequence, the benefits of the proposal carry considerable weight.”

“The development would result in a number of benefits, not least the provision of 183 dwellings, of which 73 would be affordable, and the delivery of 650sqm of Use Class B1(a) floorspace. The site is allocated for similar types of use in the WNDP. The development would provide additional public open space in excess of policy requirements. It would enable improvements to be made to public transport, cycling and walking infrastructure secured by conditions and the S106, including a Travel Plan and accessibility improvements to the town centre via Cuxham Road. There would be general economic benefits through the construction of the development and the subsequent investment of new residents in local services and facilities”