Plans for 159 dwellings in a field off the Drayton Road have been resubmitted by the new owners Taylor Wimpey. The target decision date put by the district council is 30th November 2014. Plans available here.

The new developers have introduced a modified style of housing, and drainage, but draw on the same transport study done on 6th September 2012 by their predecessor.

A planning inspector, on appeal, allowed the original plans so long as a number of conditions were fulfilled. The most significant of these were traffic mitigation measures. The original developers traffic study saw queues of 70+ during the morning rush hour on Drayton Road at the double roundabout. Their solution was to remove one pedestrian crossing and add two pedestrian crossings at new locations.

That measure was then rejected by Oxfordshire County Council – the authority required to approve any highway changes.

The new planning application says “Taylor Wimpey in accordance with the appeal decision will provide the two pedestrian crossings and necessary highways alterations as specified in the appeal decision.”

Work continues at Abbey House, the former HQ of the Vale of the White Horse District Council (VWHDC). Many VWHDC staff have already been moved to work at the South Oxfordshire District Council’s (SODC) HQ near Wallingford, leaving just front line staff to man the downstairs customer desks at Abbey House. The top two floors are to be taken over by staff from Oxfordshire County Council, and part of the ground floor will be used by the Abingdon Citizens Advice Bureau.

The only planning application so far is for increased ventilation. Natural ventilation will no longer be enough as staff numbers increase from 200 to 394 at peak times with Oxfordshire County Council moving staff in from out of town offices.

As well as the extra ventilation there looks to be a need for a new entrance at the side. That could be where the Citizens Advice will go. Presumably they will get their own air.

A field off the Drayton Road where contested plans for houses are still under consideration is currently full of buttercups. Here is the Timeline so far

Aug 2012: Hallam Land Management consult on proposed plans for 170 houses in field off Drayton Road
Nov 2012: Plans are Submitted by Hallam Land Management for 159 houses in field off Drayton Road
Nov 2012: Large Public Meeting against the plans at Guildhall
Jan 2012: VWHDC turns down planning application
Feb 2013: Hallam Land Management launch appeal
Feb 2013: Second Public Meeting against the plans at Guildhall
May 2013: Planning appeal held at Guildhall
Jul 2013: Appeal Decision allows plans so long as the traffic mitigation measures (pedestrian lights to hold up traffic) are put in place

??? ????: Hallam Sells land to Taylor Wimpey
Mar 2014: Taylor Wimpey sign erected outside field
Mar 2014: Hallam’s Traffic mitigation measures are rejected by Oxfordshire County Council
Apr 2014: Taylor Wimpey put in retrospective planning application for sign ‘Land Acquired’

Hallam Land Management Website says “Our application for 159 units was granted in the Spring of 2013. The land was sold to a national developer in Spring of 2014”.

Taylor Wimpey website says “The site at Drayton Road, Abingdon already has detailed consent, however Taylor Wimpey will be replanning and lodging a new application in Spring 2014.”