Inspector rejects Elms care home plan for Thame

A PLANNING Inspector has dismissed an appeal against refusal of a planning application for the erection of a ‘Housing with Care’ development on land at The Elms, Thame.

Meadow land at ‘The Elms’ in Thame, where Rectory Homes wanted to build a care home for the elderly

The application, submitted by Rectory Homes, included a communal residents centre; the creation of new public open space; the provision of new pedestrian/cycle links from Upper High Street to Elms Road and Elms Park; repairs and alterations to the boundary walls and entrance of Elms House; and associated infrastructure works and landscaping.

The application had been rejected by South Oxfordshire District Council back in February, 2019, and objected to by Thame Town Council, largely because it did not comply with the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

The Inspector’s main reasons stated for dismissing the appeal were:

“Taken as a whole the proposal would be contrary to the development plan in that it would materially exceed the maximum number of dwellings set out in the site specific policy in the TNP (Thame Neighbourhood Plan). It would cause harm to the setting of The Elms ……designated heritage assets, contrary to the relevant policies in the SOLP (South Oxfordshire Local Plan), the SOCS (South Oxfordshire Core Strategy) and TNP; special attention and great weight should be given to these harms. It would also fail to provide affordable housing, in particular on-site, to deliver a mixed community, in line with the policies of the SOCS, the TNP and the Framework. While there would be compliance with other policies, I consider that these are the most important policies for the determination of this appeal.”

You can read the Inspector’s full report HERE

Money lost for Elms Park improvements

Though many local residents and town councillors may welcome the Inspector’s decision, on the negative side, several thousand pounds agreed with Thame Town Council and the developer, for improvements to the public Elms Park, next door to the site, dependent on the plan being approved, will now be lost.