The Neighbourhood Plan – which was approved by over 95% of village residents who voted back in 2016 when it became part of local planning law – specified no large developments beyong the existing built up village boundary for the 15 year duration of the plan. (A large Milton Rd development and smaller devlopments within the village were accepted within the plan.)
At that time Ells Lane / Bloxham Grove Rd inarguably represented a clear and important built-up boundary preventing coalescence of the village with the ever-advancing expansion of Banbury along the A361.
Although the Ells Lane cafe is considered by many residents an asset to the village, its approval has undoubtedly greatly ‘muddied the water’ with regard to what was previously a very clear built-up boundary. Thus it is that – totally predictably – developers have seized the precedent to seek planning permission for another housing development.
Although the Local Planning Authority (CDC) rejected the proposal the developers have gone to appeal. It’s not hard to imagine what their legal arguments will be!
The appeal takes place on 6th December 2023 after which we’ll know if a further precedent has been set for ongoing development along the A361.
Watch this space!
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Apart from the fact that the proposed development falls outside the village boundary, contrary to the widely accepted village plan, the additional likely traffic generated will have a serious negative impact on the Ells Lane/Bloxham Grove/A361 junction, especially once the new Special Needs School opens. Anyone who, like us, lives close to the Warriner can attest to the huge increase in traffic around the school in the last few years.
Bloxham is an attractive village, one to which people are attracted, but developments like this simply destroy the rural nature and charm we all cherish.