An appeal has been launched after controversial plans to turn Green Belt land and part of a golf course into a £340 million science park were refused last year.
Oxford-based property and investment company Greystoke Land wants to turn the western half of Waterstock Golf Club near Wheatley and the surrounding area into an industrial site with eight-storey buildings replacing the tree-lined course.
The proposed development, which would have been known as the Waterstock Science and Innovation Park, would be built on more than 100 acres of green belt land.
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There was fierce opposition to the plans, with hundreds of people joining a protest walk through the site and nearly 400 objection letters sent to South Oxfordshire District Council.
The council turned down the application on November 6, citing 17 grounds for refusal.
This included ecological and traffic reasons, and because it would mean the loss of the existing public access to the site and the open countryside.
The decision was described as an “early Christmas present” by Waterstock Parish Council chairman Rob Arthur who said the development was “unwanted.”
However, the developers have since launched an appeal against the decision and will look to overturn the appeal decision at a public inquiry which is expected to last four weeks later this year.
Villagers say it will destroy a vital Green Belt site and would blight the River Thame Conservation Target Area.
The development close to junction 8a of the M40 will also "dangerously increase traffic on the overcrowded M40 roundabouts and the busy A418”, they say.
An appeal document reads: “It will be explained that the development proposals would deliver much-needed science and technology employment space, which would result in very substantial economic benefits to the local, regional and national economy.”
It is also claimed that there would be “no loss” of the golf course but a “contraction” with funds available to “allow for the remodelling and upgrading of the golf course on the retained land” if plans went ahead.
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In an appeal document developers do concede that "the site is not allocated for development” and is “located entirely within the green belt”.
However, it is argued there are “special circumstances” in place as the surrounding area exhibits the characteristics of an “urban fringe”.
Last summer, cyclists, walkers, riders and golfers turned out to protest against the plans at the site.
Now a fundraiser has been launched by protesters to fight the appeal.
The fundraiser organiser Lorna Arthur said: “We need help again to defend our villages, wildlife, popular walks and cycle routes along the Oxfordshire Way, golf, riding and other leisure activities from this inappropriate and unwarranted development in Oxfordshire’s Green Belt.
“Many locally are donating what they can but we fear it won’t be enough as we need to appoint a barrister and other experts.
“To this end in addition to asking supporters to write in we have also just launched a crowdfunding appeal to attract wider support as we will need additional financial help to see off this threat.”
To view the fundraiser visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/save-waterstock-green-belt
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