16 Cotswolds homes dubbed ‘inappropriate’ for village

Developers are planning to build the new homes, of which half would be deemed affordable, in Shilton, between Carterton and Burford.

The homes would vary in size, documents submitted to West Oxfordshire District Council show.

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But neighbours are not happy with the extra houses, saying their village cannot cope with the additional people.

Shilton resident Helena Wright said: “Some years ago as a village we were turned down for a similar project in the field opposite.

“So I hope that this will be turned down as well, with the same objections, no streetlights, no footpaths, no public transport, and with roads that can get very busy at times.”

One of her neighbours Jon Holloway said: “The scale of the proposed development is inappropriate for multiple reasons, the infrastructure of the village is already struggling, especially sewage and water.”

Nigel Rawding said development of existing houses in Shilton is “carefully controlled”, insisting that granting permission would “make a mockery” of the policies.

Meanwhile, James Dashwood said: “This proposal is unprecedented in scale for the village and should be declined in no uncertain terms. Ridiculous application.”

Sue Richmond warned 16 extra houses would create “a lot more traffic”, noting it is bad enough in the school holidays and weekends with the nearby Cotswold Wildlife Park.

“We are a small village of 70 houses and there is virtually another town built next to Shilton called Shilton Park which is attached to Carterton we don’t need any more houses as villages will soon be a thing of the past and Shilton has a long history of being a quaint and picturesque village let’s keep it that way,” she said.

David Cuthbertson, chairman of Shilton Parish Council, has launched an objection on behalf of the authority.

Mike Gilbert, an agent for the developer, said that the plans have been designed to meet the affordable housing needs of Shilton.

He said: “The proposed development delivers clear public benefits in the form of providing much-needed affordable homes for local people, enabling existing local residents to “downsize” and so meet another type of local housing need, helping to restore the council’s five-year housing land supply, adding vitality to the village by providing a good mix of dwellings suitable for younger people and families, efficiently re-using an already partly developed and partly committed site, and providing 16 highly sustainable new dwellings.”

The 16 new homes come amid a separate planning application for 18 houses in nearby Shilton Road, Carterton, which is being considered by planning officials.

West Oxfordshire District Council will decide on the plans in due course.