Plans to build two new homes in the Oxfordshire countryside are due to be permitted by district council planning chiefs. 

An applicant listed at Mr R Edwards wants to build side and rear extensions on two existing houses and build two more in Dunsden Green in Dunsden. 

It will be decided by South Oxfordshire District Council's planning committee on Wednesday, October 30 because of an objection from Eye and Dunsden Parish Council. 

This is in addition to five other public objections. Planning officers have recommended it for permission. 

The objection from the parish council said: “Eye and Dunsden Parish consider that the amended application is purely cosmetic and does not address the concerns we expressed in our initial response.

READ MORE: Hanwell Fields: New plans for 144 homes near Banbury

Site plan for new homes in Dunsden (Image: South Oxfordshire District Council) “The three buildings will be too high and too close together and their impact on the high amenity value village green will be too great.

"The buildings there are predominantly historic and widely spaced. The street scene visualisation is inaccurate and misleading.

"The proposed screening cannot be relied upon to hide the inappropriate design of the development. Our emerging neighbourhood plan identifies assets nearby such as the village hall which will be adversely affected.

“We therefore continue to recommend refusal.”

Diane Honey, chair of trustees at Eye and Dunsden Village Hall, said: “The design and materials of the new houses is completely out of keeping with that of the high quality and predominantly 19th century structures bordering the village green.

"The green is the historic heart of the village, and like our hall, has important historical significance in relation to the celebrated war poet, Wilfred Owen. He taught in our building which as a school in the mid-19th century and he conducted meetings in the former mission hall on the green.

“Therefore we recommend the application in its present form is rejected.”

In the planning officers' report, it said: “This application seeks planning permission for the erection of two new dwellings and the extension and alteration to the existing two semi-detached cottages on site with associated parking.

"The site would accommodate four houses, accessed via two existing vehicular accesses. 

“The proposed development would be acceptable in principle as it accords with the spatial strategy for housing within South Oxfordshire.”

It added: “The proposed development would not adversely harm the amenity of neighbours and would not harm the character or appearance of the site and the surrounding area.

"The proposed development would not adversely impact important ecological or arboricultural assets on site and would ensure safe and convenient access to the local highway with sufficient parking and manoeuvring provided on site.

"In conjunction with the attached conditions, the proposal accords with relevant planning policy, and planning permission should be granted.”

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About the author  

Toby is a senior reporter who has a particular interest in covering planning and local government. 

He joined in September 2024 having been a reporter at the Hampshire Chronicle for three years. 

Toby studied at the University of Brighton and can be found on X through the handle @JournoToby