Christ Church appeals over 1,450-home plan in Oxford

Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Management want to build the homes, a primary school, and other facilities on the land north of Bayswater Brook, near Headington.

But they said that “numerous ongoing delays” in the decision making process of the planning authorities meant they had taken the “difficult decision” to start an appeal process.

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The applicants have now appealed to the government planning inspectorate.

Paul Silver for Dorchester Residential Management said: “We have been developing the planning applications with considerable input from the community and stakeholders for almost three years.

“Unfortunately, due to lack of resourcing at some of the statutory consultees, there have been numerous ongoing delays and we have had to make the difficult decision to start the appeal process.”

Christ Church in Oxford (Image: Oxford Mail)

Christ Church treasurer James Lawrie said: “We have been working with the local planning authorities for over three years and had very much hoped to secure a local permission in a timely manner.

“While that has not proved possible, we will continue to engage with our stakeholders and discuss any future detailed planning applications with them.”

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South Oxfordshire District Council, which is set to decide on the application along with Oxford City Council, said it was “disappointed” with the decision.

The district council has earmarked the site for 1,100 homes in its Local Plan, but certain infrastructure needs to be decided by Oxford City Council as well.

The applicants submitted their applications to the district and city councils in December.

Half of the proposed homes would be affordable, including a mix of social rent and affordable rent tenures, to meet the housing need in Oxford and Oxfordshire.

An artist's impression of the Bayswater Brook plans (Image: Christ Church/Dorchester Residential Management)

A district council spokesperson said: "We're disappointed to learn that applicant Christ Church and Dorchester Residential Management intends to go to an appeal for their planning application for land north of Bayswater Brook.

“We have worked positively and collaboratively with the applicant, but as with all large-scale developments, this application has required extensive engagement with many external partners and agencies.

“It has taken some of them longer than normal to process this application, and we have received very complex responses from others, they added.

"The scale and complexity of the development has meant it's taken longer than normal, but if anything, that makes it more important that the decision is made locally.

"An appeal will be costly, take longer than a local decision, and isn't in anyone's best interest.

“We've respectfully requested the applicant review their position and will continue working with them in a constructive manner."