Home scheme approved despite fears over water quality

Posted by UK Property Forums on 10th June 2024 -

Councillors have agreed to alter a condition on water quality to plans for up to 800 homes at Kidlington after a last-minute objection from the Environment Agency (EA).

Cherwell District Council’s planning committee approved Bellway Homes’ and Christ Church’s outline application to develop a mixed-use scheme on 45.8 hectares of largely agricultural land at Water Eaton, off the A4165 Oxford Road, close to Oxford Parkway station at its June 6 meeting.

But, prior to discussions, the meeting heard a request from EA to refuse the scheme because of a risk of pollution to surface water quality.

It noted that major upgrading of Oxford Sewage Treatment Works, due to be completed in March 2025, has been significantly delayed and EA argued the development poses ‘an unacceptable risk to water quality’.

Council officers will discuss altering a condition with EA to ensure requirements are met before the scheme is delivered.

The application was passed by 16 votes to 0 with two abstentions.

At the same meeting an application for up to 90 homes from Neptune Land Promotion to develop 5.97 hectares of arable farming land south of Bloxham Road, Milcombe was refused.

Also at the meeting L&Q Estates’ plans for up to 55 homes on 3.52 hectares of agricultural land, west of Church Ley Field, near Blackthorn Road, Ambrosden, near Bicester was approved.