Monthly Archives: November 2015

HAVE A SAY ON THIS ISSUE

OutlookOutlook is SODC’s newsletter. Many people would have received the latest edition through their letterboxes this week.

It has a good update on the transformation happening to Didcot in terms of major development. The Green Gap is not mentioned which is good news!

It also includes a briefing about what is going to happen next. Whilst you might be unsurprised to learn that next is going to mean more houses, the article does outline the issues and explain the process. Continue reading

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“SENSIBLE DECISION MAKING”

Department_for_Communities_local_governmentEarlier this year, Brandon Lewis the Minister of State for Housing and Planning wrote to the Chief Executive of The Planning Inspectorate. His letter is here. He wanted to remind the planning community that “the impact of development on the landscape can be an important material consideration” in decision making.

He highlighted several recent appeal cases in which harm to landscape character has been an important consideration in the appeal being dismissed. Continue reading

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THE STORY THAT WONT GO AWAY

Oxfordshire Guardian NovemberNow that the consultation period is over, SODC has gone away to do their thinking. Meanwhile this week’s Oxfordshire Guardian gives them something more to think about. The article calls on SODC to play fair by Didcot. Didcot Town Council make it clear that they expect SODC to listen to Didcot when it comes to Planning matters.

Both Didcot Town Council and East Hagbourne Parish Council has recommended that SODC refuse Grainger’s speculative application. Neither body played the NIMBY card, both used persuasive, well reasoned and undeniable planning reasons. Continue reading

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SUBMISSION TO SODC. NO SUBMISSION TO GRAINGER.

There are 400 plus objections posted to SODC’s website. In fairness there are comments in support of Grainger too. Three of them.

If that’s not impressive enough hear this. You have written well over 140,000 words. That is a long novel’s worth of articulate, referenced and passionate argument that refutes Grainger’s claims to be welcome, sustainable and good for the town and village.

There is no doubting the strength of feeling from both Didcot and East Hagbourne. The community simply does not want to lose its Green Gap.

Continue reading

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ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

The third dimension of development sustainability is environmental.

Here’s the single paragraph that Grainger dedicate to the matter.“The environmental credentials of the proposal are not diluted simply because the site is currently greenfield. It has already been acknowledged by the District Council that it will need to develop greenfield sites to meet Continue reading

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