A developer has re-submitted plans for permission to turn countryside land in an Oxfordshire village into a travellers site.

Murdoch Planning previously had its proposal rejected in Fringford near Bicester to change land to a four-pitch Travellers caravan site with a stable building.

Planning permission was refused on the basis of three reasons related to the "effect on open countryside", concern it would "significantly compromise highway safety" and "harm to protected species of their habitat".

READ MORE: Conversion plan lodged for swimming pool near Abingdon

Proposed site plan.Proposed site plan. (Image: Cherwell District Council.)

But the applicant has said "it is clear that the reasons for refusing the previous planning application can been resolved by the imposition of suitable conditions".

The developer added: "I attach significant weight to the unmet need for gypsy and traveller sites. The grant of permission in this case would provide some limited assistance in meeting that need.

"It is not accepted that the council has an up-to-date five year supply of deliverable Traveller sites."

The re-submission comes as there has been instances in recent months of travellers setting up camp in Bicester such as an incident in May where Travellers pitched up at a park near the Lidl supermarket.

Police were then made aware of the "unauthorised encampment".

Fringford.Fringford. (Image: Other.)

Last month there was also an incident at South Park in Oxford which saw Travellers issued with an eviction notice as they allegedly drove trucks and work vans around the site and performed donuts.

 

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About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi