DEVASSIST: Housing shortage outweighs countryside concerns in appeal decision for 160-home scheme

A planning inspector has granted outline permission for a residential development of up to 160 homes in the Oxfordshire countryside after concluding that the local authority’s shortage of deliverable housing sites carried significant weight in the planning balance.

The decision followed an appeal by land promoter Gladman Developments after South Oxfordshire District Council refused permission for the scheme.

Proposal for housing in Chalgrove

Gladman Developments submitted outline plans in March 2025 for a residential development on farmland off the B480 in the village of Chalgrove.

The proposals relate to an 11-hectare site and include plans for up to 160 homes, with 54 designated as affordable housing.

South Oxfordshire District Council refused the application in July 2025. The developer subsequently appealed the decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

Housing land supply position examined

In a decision letter dated 20 February, planning inspector Andrew Dawe highlighted the council’s housing land supply position as a key factor in the case.

He concluded that the authority could demonstrate a 3.81-year supply of deliverable housing sites, which he described as a “significant shortfall” when compared with the five-year requirement set out in national planning policy.

Planning data shows that the council had previously been able to demonstrate a higher housing land supply figure of around 4.5 years.

The inspector also considered the status of the joint emerging local plan being prepared by South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council. An examining inspector had advised the two authorities to withdraw the plan in October because it failed to meet the legal duty to cooperate.

Dawe noted that even if the examination process were to continue, the plan was not sufficiently advanced to guide development in the near future.

“Even if its examination were to proceed, [the joint emerging local plan] is not in such a position as to be adopted in the near future, so as to provide for its plan-led growth”.

As a result, the National Planning Policy Framework presumption in favour of sustainable development applied, meaning the council’s housing supply policies were considered out of date.

Planning balance considered

In assessing the planning balance, the inspector acknowledged that the proposed development conflicted with the council’s spatial strategy, which was adopted in December 2020.

He also recognised potential harm arising from the scheme, including a “moderate degree of harm” related to local primary school provision and impacts on the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside.

However, the inspector placed considerable weight on the housing benefits the development would provide.

He described the delivery of both market housing and affordable homes as “very significant”.

Neighbourhood plan considerations

The decision also took account of the Chalgrove Neighbourhood Development Plan adopted in 2018. The plan states that residential development outside the village should only be supported where it is appropriate for a countryside location and consistent with development plan policies.

Paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework sets out additional protections for neighbourhood plans in certain circumstances where the presumption in favour of sustainable development applies.

However, the inspector determined that even if paragraph 14 were applied, the benefits of the scheme would still outweigh its adverse effects.

He concluded that “the adverse impacts of granting permission … would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits”.

On that basis, the appeal was allowed.

Kindly shared by DevAssist