Crime & Safety
Oxfordshire farm plans for 10 homes recommended for refusal
Developer Laxton Properties is seeking permission from Cherwell District Council to redevelop land at Dovecote Farm in Fritwell Road in Somerton into 10 houses.
The application, which was submitted in January, also proposes the building of a community allotment and a footpath access route.
A change of use from pastural farming to public outdoor amenity or leisure space on land adjacent to the Somerton Play Area has also been proposed.
Cherwell District Council’s planning committee will debate the scheme on April 16.
Planning officers have recommended it be refused.
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In the report to the committee, the officers said: “It would result in an urbanising development with the layout and form of housing more typical of modern urban developments.
“It is considered that the identified harm to the character and appearance of the locality is considered to represent unsustainable development and would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the scheme, and it is recommended that planning permission is refused, for the reason given below.
“The provision of 10 dwellings would make a very limited contribution to the overall housing needs of the District along with the government’s wider objective for 1.5 million homes.
“This application does not provide any affordable housing. The provision of 10 dwellings does not outweigh the concerns relating to the unsustainable and isolated location of the application site.”
In an objection, a spokesperson for the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) said: “The location does not lend itself to minimising vehicular trips and amenities are not within comfortable and safe walking or cycling distance.
“The consequences of the proposed development are likely to be significant when considering the visual impact on the landscape character in this area of open countryside and how this will be affected by the proposed development.
“Ultimately it is the opinion of CPRE that new homes should be provided through the plan-led system.
“This is the best means we have of ensuring that development decisions are based on democratic and transparent policies, and that environmental, social and economic needs are met.”
The existing yard at Dovecote Farm is made up of five large barns of varying size due to its most recent use as an agricultural yard.
According to a planning document, the existing farmyard is now redundant for agricultural purposes due to the farmer and landowner moving into retirement.
Therefore, it will no longer operate an agricultural unit from the site.
The proposed houses consist of a mixture of two storey properties and bungalows, with two detached bungalows.
Southern Down Care Home, based in Chipping Norton, took home the top prize in the annual Barchester Easter Cake competition for the North West and Midlands Division.
The annual contest invites care homes and hospitals across the UK to design and bake creative Easter cakes.
Subra Krishnan, general manager at Southern Down Care Home, said: “Our residents had such a brilliant time taking part in this competition, it has been such fun.
“Everyone here loves to bake and we all love cake so we were all very excited to take part.
“It has been a real collaborative process – refining the recipe and trying different versions of the design.
“We’ve all loved eating the previous versions until we came up with the perfect winning design.
“It really has been no hardship.”
The winning cake, made by residents in the home’s baking club, was decorated with chocolate treats and designed as a group effort.
Resident Shirley said: “I’ve been baking my whole life, I find it so satisfying when a cake turns out well and everyone enjoys it.
“Easter cakes have always been a favourite thing of mine to make so when I heard about the competition, I couldn’t wait to get stuck in.
“I am so proud that we have won, it has made my Easter.”
Southern Down Care Home is part of Barchester Healthcare.
A planning application for a patch of grass at Millbrook Square, opposite school lane on the end of the parade of shops, has been submitted to the Vale of White Horse District Council.
The applicant has proposed building a new retail store as a designated stationery book store to serve the town and nearby Millbrook School.
The new building would be attached to the existing parade of shops next to the unit currently occupied by a Costa coffee shop and a Turkish barbers.
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Making a submission on behalf of the applicant firm Cotswold Residential Design Ltd said: “The book and stationery shop will produce a neighbourhood hub and foster a strong sense of local community which we feel will bring great benefits to the community who will use it.”
It added that the new store would “add to customer choice and contribute to the provision of a diverse retail offer” and provide “much needed” book and stationary retail in the town.
Plans for the design of the shop indicate it would be built out of matching brickwork to match the existing retail and residential units on Millbrook Square, with a shop frontage onto School Lane.
It adds that the side door at 14 Millbrook Square, with access to the Turkish Barbers, “does not have the relevant consents so the proposals will be to remove and infill this access door”.
Mr Clarkson celebrated his 66th birthday on Saturday and was given the cake at a football match in Miami.
In a post on Instagram, Mr Clarkson said: “A man I met at a football match in Miami gave me a birthday cake. So kind.”
In a photo, Sir David can be seen holding the birthday cake and wearing an Inter Miami blazer, the team he owns.
Mr Clarkson lives in Oxfordshire, where he bought Diddly Squat Farm, then known as Curdle Hill, back in 2008.
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The Chadlington-based spot is the focus of Prime Video’s hit documentary show, Clarkson’s Farm.
With four seasons already under its belt, the popular programme is set to return next month with series five.
Sir David lives near Great Tew, and not far from Soho Farmhouse, an exclusive private members’ club.
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