Rural campaigners 'upset' over plan for 170 homes

The group opposed to the development said it was upset by the decision

Campaigners against a 170-home development on the outskirts of an Oxfordshire town have described their "upset" after outline planning permission was granted on appeal.

Vistry Homes' proposals for a site east of Warwick Road in Banbury were refused by Cherwell District Council in 2023 but have now been allowed by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Keep Hanwell Village Rural (KHVR) group said members had been left "extremely disappointed by this unexpected outcome".

But a planning inspector said the development's “largely undisputed social, economic and environmental benefits are of such magnitude that they clearly outweigh the identified harms”.

Robin Aitken, chair of the KHVR, said residents felt "unequivocally let down" on what he said was a "very sad day for north Banbury residents, rural communities, wildlife and farming".

The group added that to say its members were upset would be a "gross understatement".

In a report upholding the developer's appeal, planning inspector Dominic Young acknowledged the plans would “undeniably erode elements of the functioning space between Hanwell and Banbury”.

Mr Young added it was "clear" the site where the housing would go "is valued locally".