Council slammed for refusal over warehouses near M40

Councillor Jean Conway, who was CDC’s lead member for planning, revealed to Banbury FM that these applications were refused despite the council having received professional advice from officers that the application was policy compliant and adhered to local plans.

Mr Woodcock has called this decision “alarming”.

He said: “Councilor Conway’s comments raise a number of concerns about how the council and particularly its leadership approach planning.”

This comes as CDC is top of the list in Oxfordshire, and one of the highest in the country, for financial losses due to successful appeals.

The council racked up £429,670 in losses and appeal payouts, forcing the council to abandon defending subsequent major development appeals due to legal budget limit.

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Composite of protestors outside Castle Quay and plans for the warehouses (Image: Esme Kenney / Contributed)

Mr Woodcock said: “Money spent on defending indefensible planning refusals ends up in the hands of developers and lawyers to the detriment of local residents.

“The claims made leave serious questions about how much confidence residents in Cherwell can have in you and the wider council leadership.”

Cherwell District Council accepted and then refused the planning of the controversial development of warehouses of the M40.

The council will now not appear at the inquiry in September to defend its own refusal, despite mass objections from the community.

Developers Albion Land and Tritax Symmetry Ardley submitted four planning applications between them for the major development near junction 10. 

The decision to reconsider the applications was made due to the council receiving letters of objection from Richard Buxton Solicitors, acting on behalf of Stoke Lyne Parish Council and The Tusmore Estate, alleging that the applicants’ environmental statement was inadequate, that officers had ‘misdirected members at committee’.

Cherwell District Council has been contacted for comment.