The Development Management Sub-Committee of West Oxfordshire Council met on Monday 10 August 2026. Members considered several planning applications. Key decisions included the refusal of an outline planning application for up to 80 dwellings in North Leigh due to concerns over scale, landscape impact, and infrastructure. The committee also approved a replacement dwelling and an additional dwelling in Kingham, and authorised officers to proceed with the statutory consultation process for the diversion of a public footpath in Shipton under Wychwood.

Land at Common Road, North Leigh

The committee considered an outline planning application for up to 80 dwellings on land at Common Road, North Leigh. The application was refused. The refusal was based on the development's scale, which was considered to be disproportionate to the village's character and would lead to an unacceptable cumulative impact on the local landscape. Concerns were also raised about the erosion of the village's rural setting and the lack of adequate infrastructure to support the development. Despite acknowledging the council's need for housing land supply, members felt that the adverse impacts of this particular proposal significantly outweighed the benefits.

Hillside, Station Road, Kingham

Members unanimously approved the erection of two detached self-build dwellings at Hillside, Station Road, Kingham. The decision was made against the Parish Council's objections, with officers highlighting that the design, scale, and materials were appropriate for the village setting and would not harm the Cotswolds National Landscape or neighbouring amenities. A condition was added to address concerns about stone cutting on-site during construction.

The Coach House, Asthall

The committee approved both the householder application and the listed building consent application for alterations and extensions to the Grade II listed Coach House and Stables in Asthall. The proposed works include internal and external alterations, a small extension to the stables, and a lightweight open-sided link structure between the buildings. Officers concluded that while there would be a low level of less than substantial harm to the heritage assets, this was outweighed by the public benefits of securing the long-term conservation and viable use of the buildings.

Proposed Diversion of Public Right of Way, Shipton Under Wychwood

The committee authorised officers to make a Public Path Diversion Order and carry out statutory consultation for a section of Footpath No. 343/7/10 in Shipton Under Wychwood. This diversion is necessary to enable the construction of an agricultural storage barn, for which prior approval had been granted. The decision to proceed with consultation was made despite objections from local residents and the Parish Council, who raised concerns about the proposed route, its impact on wildlife, and the potential for the agricultural building to be used for equestrian purposes. The committee was informed that authorising the order would allow for a formal consultation process, after which any outstanding objections would be referred to the Planning Inspectorate.

Applications Determined Under Delegated Powers

The committee noted a report detailing applications determined under delegated powers.

Appeal Decisions

The committee noted a report detailing appeal decisions.

Site Visits

The committee agreed to a site visit on Thursday 3 September 2026 at 9:30 am to view an outline application for up to 100 dwellings on the edge of Endstone off Lidstone Road.