Care units in Burford refused by council after NHS objection

The outline planning application for up to 141 assisted care residential units and up to 32 affordable houses in Burford was turned down by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC).

The application, submitted by Greystoke, centred on a greenfield site at land east of Barns Lane.

Barns Lane, to the west, and the plot of land where the plans were refused. Picture: Google Maps

A decision notice issued by WODC read: “The site lies within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) wherein the local planning authority is required to give great weight to conserving landscape and scenic beauty.

“The site is prominently located in the countryside beyond the existing settlement edge of Burford.

“The development would encroach unacceptably into agricultural land and would fail to relate satisfactorily to the town or the existing rural environment which provides a setting for it.

“It would not easily assimilate into its surroundings resulting in the loss of an important area of open space that makes a positive contribution to the character of the area.”

Land east of Barns Lane, Burford, known as Cole’s Field. Picture: Google Maps

The NHS Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (OCCG) objected to the proposal due to the added pressure the development would have on local health services, with a developer contribution of £149,472 sought.

A consultee comment read: “Primary care is at capacity in Burford and requires additional infrastructure to provide capacity for population growth.

“Additionally, OCCG is concerned that such a large extra care facility in a small rural town places excessive demand on health and social care workforce recruitment locally.

“This risks being of detriment to the users of existing domiciliary care and residential care locally.”

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Kevin Cox, crime prevention design advisor at TVP, wrote in a consultee comment: “The safety and security of the public open space has not been addressed, and the outline plan indicates that it may be proposed in an area lacking surveillance.

“I have particular concerns that the footpath to the north of the development away from the road may be isolated with limited surveillance, leaving users vulnerable to crime.”

Natural England objected, citing that the scale of the development would have a ‘detrimental impact on the setting of Burford within the landscape, and would be visible from a number of viewpoints including footpaths within the AONB’.

Upon consultation for the development, Burford Town Council mayor Peter Higgs said the council was ‘strongly and unanimously opposed to the proposals’, adding that the development would ‘destroy landscape and natural beauty’.

The comment added: “The overall effect of the proposed development would be to urbanise the eastern edge of Burford with no countervailing advantage.”

To view the application, search the WODC online planning portal using the reference 21/02343/OUT.