Councillors voted to keep land for commercial development rather than adding extra housing to a Witney housing scheme.

Crest Nicholson wants to add 75 more homes to the 257 already permitted at Colwell Green, a site that used to be home to the now-defunct Witney Town Football Club and has two industrial units backing on to it.

Permission for the initial development, granted in 2017, included an employment area which was set to include a hotel and office space.

Anyone applying for an alternative use would have to show that commercial development was not viable. 

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Nicholas Daruwalla, land director at Crest Nicholson, said there had been “comprehensive marketing for three-and-a-half years” without concrete interest in commercial use being established. 

“We don’t agree that the site has had a strong level of interest,” he said. “There have been 31 enquiries, which is less than 10 per year, with no follow-up interest and no offer has been received for the consented office and hotel uses.

“Actual offers received relate to a caravan park operator and Chris Hayter Transport. The latter is proposing storage and distribution use, contrary to condition six of the 2017 (permission).”

Council officer Phil Shaw countered that by saying: “The site was approved for employment purposes. There is an operator of an adjoining site who is prepared to use it for the purpose of commercial development and your own business development officer is saying there is a strong demand for employment use in this part of Witney. 

“Clearly this site is worth more as a housing site, and that might explain why it is not being sold for the consented purpose. The applicants have sought to advance the argument it should come forward for housing but it is not considered that the case has been proven to set aside your policy. 

“We believe there is a policy-based objection on principle.”

Councillors resoundingly agreed. 

Councillor Duncan Enright, who represents Witney East, said: “I think a lot of sense has been talked about our policy. The overriding wish is to have Witney remain a viable town, not a dormitory and just a place for people to live and be exported to work elsewhere.

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“In the context of our local plan it is really important.”

Ducklington councillor Ben Woodruff had proposed to delay the decision and for the committee to conduct a site visit.

“I appreciate what was agreed at the time but maybe things have changed,” he said. 

“Having seen the site first hand with the housing there, you appreciate how unattractive a commercial warehouse or lorry park would be that close to a housing estate.”

That proposal was voted down with all bar two councillors then voting through the recommended refusal.