The town council organised another public meeting regarding the proposed development of 160 houses in a field in South Abingdon, which got turned down by the district council, and has now gone to appeal.

All previous comments made to the district council about the plans will go forward to the planning inspector, but people can make new comments to the Planning Inspector,before 15th March. People can even ask to speak at the hearings.

The main reason the development is seen as unsustainable by a lot of locals is because of the traffic situation in South Abingdon. There was a lot of traffic on the Drayton Road after the meeting coming from South Abingdon.

Even more leaving South Abingdon via the Iron Bridge.

Residents are faced with yet another potential development which brings with it no additional infrastructure. The development would also detract from the rural environment of the area.

The developer’s appeal says it is close enough to facilities like schools and shops to make it ‘sustainable’. That houses need to be built in this area and that the district has only plans for 3.3 years of housing – not the required 5 years.

Seen here between The Harp and Al-Zaib is a modern purpose built office building within an attractive courtyard setting. The New Abbey Court offices benefit from a lift and car parking. But times have moved on and there are plans afoot to replace them with even newer housing.

The architects says “Due to its close proximity to Oxford town centre, Abingdon has seen an influx of young professionals in recent years.”

An appeal has been lodged against the decision of the Vale of White Horse District Council to refuse the application for 160 houses to be built in a field – often used by horses.

As people predicted the main grounds for appeal are :

• The district council’s local plan has run out and there is no new one in place.
• The National Panning Policy Framework (NPPF) means that in such cases national policies to meet housing targets should have more weight.

The appeal, although mostly couched in phrases pulled from the NPPF, also addresses more local grounds for refusal, saying:

• Abingdon treatment works will easily be able to deal with the extra load.
• If Oxfordshire County Council implemented the suggested traffic mitigation measures then traffic would be no worse.

(Thanks to Nigel for the pictures of the field.)

A NHS Children’s clinic now occupies part of the Clock House, which when opened in 1882 was home to a Conservative Working Mens Club. Three reliefs of Tory Grandees and a magnificent window adorn the front. It is good to see repairs now taking place before the rot sets in.

For more information on the reliefs try John’s Miscellany which he did for the blog in January 2010. I and maybe others in Abingdon are is still hoping there will be a 2nd John’s Miscellany.