A DEVELOPER has lodged an appeal after highly controversial plans to build 176 new homes, nearly half of which would be affordable, on 16th century woodland were turned down.

Parishioners described the sense of relief when in October last year South Oxfordshire District Council ruled that the project for the site of Didcot Hadden would not only threaten the health and longevity of a large number of trees but it would also result in the generation of more traffic through a sensitive part of the highway.

However, Manor Oak Homes – the Northampton-based developer – has now unveiled plans to lodge an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, which could overturn the decision before the end of the year.

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An inspector appointed by the Secretary of State is set to hold an inquiry Tuesday, August 17, to make a decision on the appeal.

A statement from Manor Oak Homes said: "Three of the reasons for refusal included as part of the council's decision notice related to the potential impact of the proposal on the trees on site as well as design and landscape implications.

"By way of a response we have amended the indicative masterplan to show a scale of development closer up to 150 dwellings, a reduction from the original 176.

"This includes the removal of two parcels of development on the northern and eastern areas of the site to further reduce any impact on trees and the adjacent landscape and countryside."

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In the ruling, the district council’s head of planning Adrian Duffield highlighted that the development was not in keeping with the Local Plan for the area and argued that it would place extra pressure on Culham and Clifton Hampden bridges.

The decision was welcomed by Long Wittenham Parish Council who objected to the plans on the grounds that the development was not needed because of the neighbouring expansion of Ladygrove with 1,800 new homes, schools, shops and other facilities over the next decade.

At the time parish council chairman Gordon Rogers said that refusal of the development is a 'big relief'.

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He added: "If allowed it would have seen another large area of land given over to housing and would duplicate what is already underway at the neighbouring Ladygrove expansion.

"It would have added even more vehicles on to what is an already over-crowded road network."

Didcot Town Council, which also objected the plan, was also 'gravely concerned' about the effect the proposal would have on the trees on the site and argued that any development would affect these them in the future, no matter what measures were taken at the planning stage.