More new homes for Thame approved

PLANNING permission has been granted for a new housing development at land north of Oxford Road, Thame (site F), by Planning Officers without having to be considered by South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning committee.

The permission is for the erection of 203 dwellings, with new allotment plots, public open space, new pedestrian and cycle routes, construction of internal access roads, foul water pump station, surface water attenuation, ancillary enabling works, together with the formation of new vehicular and pedestrian access points.

Currently, planning permissions can be granted by planning officers, as long as there has been no objection from Thame Town Council. The proposal was the subject of much concern during the consultation period, including from some Oxford Road residents worried that the water drainage system in that part of the town would be unable to cope with additional quantities of waste water. SEE LINK

The planning approval is subject to 30 conditions, including measures to protect trees during construction, and a proviso that no properties can be occupied until an acceptable drainage sytstem is in place (see full Officer’s decision notice HERE ) and is not without some criticism of the plans by the Planning Officer. In the decision notice, although the officer commends the plans, stating that: “The proposed layout in particular delivers a network of green links, pedestrian and cycle routes that will ensure good sustainable connectivity for this site, which does lie on the outskirts of Thame,” he adds:

“However, the proposed layout does have poor connectivity for cars, with an over-reliance on cul-de-sacs. Furthermore, officers are concerned that the bias towards larger market units has not been properly evidenced. However, for the reasons outlined in the main report, these issues do not warrant a refusal of planning permission when weighed against the clear benefits of bringing forward 203 homes in line with the Neighbourhood Plan allocation. Particular weight is given to the overall support of Thame Town Council and also the provision of 81 affordable homes.”

Developer contributions (Section 106 monies) that will benefit Thame, will include £12,800 towards a new club house at the Thame cricket ground, money for additional affordable housing off site and contributions to improvements at Southern Road recreation ground.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS & HERITAGE

During an archaeological investigation of the site, many interesting things were found including three almost complete vessels associated with burials, a late Bronze Age – early Iron Age vessel with a finger fluted rim, iron-age flints, an almost complete intact dish from the later Iron – early Roman age, a third century finger ring, Roman coins and a Roman burial pit that appears to have been disturbed at some time, containing a body minus much of its torso and head and burial pots. But perhaps most exciting of all was the unearthing of a Neolithic road  of which only 13 have ever been found in the country apparently.

Roman coins found at site F in Thame (Image courtesy of John Moore Heritage Services)

You can read the whole Archaeological Evaluation report here Archaeological Evaluation Report The Heritage Statement too (see Heritage Statement (1) ) makes facinating reading for anyone interested in Thame’s history