Developer appeals after rejection of controversial homes plan (From The Oxford Times)
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Developer appeals after rejection of controversial homes plan
2:00pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News
By Pete Hughes, Reporter. Call me on 01865 425431
Nicola Blackwood
CONTROVERSIAL plans for 160 houses in Abingdon will be decided on appeal in the latest twist to the Vale’s housing crisis.
The Planning Inspectorate will make a final decision on the plan for land off Drayton Road. Vale of White Horse District Council last month threw out the scheme but developer Hallam Land Management has launched an appeal.
It is the latest housing headache to hit the council, which has battled a slew of housing plans it does not support. The authority has yet to adopt a plan identifying where new estates should go and is missing a key housing target.
This has led developers to put forward sites not backed by the council, saying new homes are essential to bring down house prices. The council said the plan for the homes on a field to the rear of Virginia Way would cause “unacceptable” levels of congestion. Hallam said it would create 100 extra peak-time cars.
Residents fighting the plan have the support of Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood.
She said: “Abingdon residents have had to battle with traffic congestion for years, and I can’t support something that threatens to make that worse.
“I myself will be submitting a letter to the inquiry in support of the council’s position, detailing the various objections raised by a large number of my constituents, and I encourage local residents to do the same.”
Miss Blackwood said she had faith that the inspector could deliver a “fair inquiry”.
The site is not listed in the council’s previous local plan detailing where estates should go. It was published in 2006 and ran up to 2011. But it has yet to agree the replacement plan, with draft sites due to be revealed at the end of the month. The plan is due to be adopted next year.
The Vale is also failing to meet a Government target to get enough homes built to meet demand in the next five years.
Council leader Matthew Barber (Con) said: “We are confident of our position and we will naturally fight the appeal.”
Richard Webber, leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition, said the local plan was delayed in 2010 due to uncertainty about the then new Government’s planning agenda. New planning rules finally came into effect last year, giving the council a clear strategy for its next plan.
He said: “There is terrific pressure on the planning inspectorate to grant permission where there are not local plans in place. Our local plan has been delayed which makes this nasty gap, so speculative developers can wade in and submit a plan.”
He said: “I think this application has been poorly conceived and opportunistic.”
Comments(5)
Myron Blatz
says...
12:42am Thu 14 Feb 13
zimmer, Wolvecote.
says...
12:14pm Thu 14 Feb 13
Myron Blatz wrote:Looking at a map it would not take much to build a link from Drayton road to The A34, that would solve a lot of the traffic I think.
Theoretical housing targets must also reflect reality - and the ability of Abingdon's existing infrastructure to cope. That, or local and national government must help to upgrade roads and utility services before any more housing expansion takes place. Perhaps it must be queationwd as to whether and why Abingdon needs to keep on expanding?
Abingdon Neil
says...
3:02pm Thu 14 Feb 13
That's why this particular site was previously ruled out by the Vale.
Unfortunately the Vale did not get the new Local Development Framework agreed quickly enough which gives this developer the basis for the appeal.
Also the County Council dropped road projects in Abingdon from the County Transport Plan.
Man on the Green
says...
9:07pm Fri 15 Feb 13
The real problem, however, is the wharf-side traffic to St Helen's, which immediately causes the town centre to snarl up, spreading traffic congestion radiating all the way out, including along Ock Street to the mini roundabouts with Drayton Road.
Gross impropriety by councillors with prejudicial interests led to the planned closure of this rat-run under the AbITS scheme being reversed, one of the most damaging decisions of recent years.
This time round, it is heartening to see that the Friends of Abingdon, with the status of civic society, have become again a force to be reckoned with, and are building a compelling case against the construction of this development, which would cause - by the County Council's estimate using the approved DfT methodology - some 720 additional peak time vehicle movements, and as many as 2,240 additional daily vehicle movements.
If there is to be a real solution to the chaos caused by AbITS, the bullet of wharf closure will need to be bitten, as part of a rethink aimed at "getting Abingdon moving again". It can be done, and at limited cost, but the self-interest of certain councillors and political heavyweights needs to be exposed and their views set aside.
Their previous misconduct forced a retreat from the clear and unequivocal recommendations of the experts' report, at huge cost to the vitality of the town's economy. Such abuse of process can be tolerated no longer.
Wait until you see them each start to squeal when the idea is invoked aain, and then ask them which route they themselves use to go into town to trouser their councillors' allowances, etc. Yes, you've guessed it, the wharf.
Wallingford2 says...
3:33pm Wed 13 Feb 13