36 Homes Approved on the Standlake Road in Ducklington
- Jan 30
- 3 min read
West Oxfordshire District Council have just approved a planning application for the construction of 36 homes on the Standlake Road in Ducklington.
Despite residents concerns, and concerns submitted from myself and Ducklington Parish Council, the District Council have gone ahead and approved plans anyway.
Due to the Council not getting a grip on getting builders to build on strategic sites, we are seeing them approving smaller, speculative developments in our villages.
Some of the concerns I raised were:
Conflict with Planning Policy: The site is located in open countryside and is not allocated for housing in the Local or Neighbourhood Plans. This violates Policy H2, which restricts rural development. A previous appeal inspector also ruled that similar proposals would harm the character of the area.
Harm to Local Character: The density and small plot sizes are inconsistent with the surrounding area and violate the West Oxfordshire Design Guide, particularly regarding insufficient outdoor space.
Safety and Access: The proposed access requires residents to walk 120 meters along an unlit road and cross a heavy-vehicle access point to reach public transport, creating potential safety risks for pedestrians.
Flooding and Drainage: The Flood Risk Assessment inaccurately claims no risk of surface flooding, despite multiple documented incidents on Standlake Road in 2024 (including Storm Bert). The proposed "kerb build-out" sits in a high-risk zone and may obstruct water flow, while the drainage strategy relies on unverified assumptions regarding the existing ditch network.
Ultimately, it's been passed. There are some financial contributions from the developer for the village which include:
District Council Payments:
These payments are generally due prior to the first occupation of any dwelling:
Healthcare Contribution: £32,623 for additional clinical capacity at GP surgeries in the area.
Outdoor Pitch Contribution: £71,215.92 for outdoor sports pitch facilities within a 20-minute drive.
LAP (Local Area for Play) Contribution: £29,448 for the enhancement and maintenance of Glebelands play area in Ducklington.
Swimming Pools Contribution: £19,952 for improvements to swimming pools within a 20-minute drive.
Sports Halls Contribution: £16,539 for sports halls (most likely Ducklington Sports & Social Club) within a 20-minute drive.
District Waste Contribution: £3,546.19 for household waste and recycling containers (subject to final dwelling mix).
Biodiversity Net Gain Monitoring Fee: £3,500 for monitoring compliance with biodiversity net gain requirements.
Artificial Pitches Contribution: £2,813 for artificial pitches within a 20-minute drive.
Tennis Courts Contribution: £1,274 for improvements to tennis courts within a 20-minute drive.
County Council Payments
These payments are also due prior to the first occupation of any dwelling:
Public Transport Services Contribution: £47,736 for enhancing public transport services between Ducklington and Witney.
Public Rights of Way Contribution: £15,000 for local public rights of way improvements.
Traffic Regulation Order Contribution: £4,224 for promoting a traffic calming build-out.
Strategic Waste Management Contribution: £3,726 for expansion and efficiency of household waste recycling centres.
LWVP Enhancements Contribution: £1,590 for the Lower Windrush Valley Project.
LWVP Infrastructure Contribution: £1,394 for Lower Windrush Valley Project infrastructure works.
Affordable Housing Contributions:
Affordable Housing Provision: 40% of the total dwellings must be Affordable Housing Units (approximately 14 units if 36 are built).
Tenure Mix: 66% Social Rented Housing and 34% Shared Ownership Units.
Maintenance Sum: If open spaces are transferred to the Parish Council, a 20-year maintenance sum is payable, calculated based on the average of three independent assessments.
Overall, I have tried my best throughout this process to represent your concerns as local residents. Now it's time to hold this Planning Department to account and ensure that these financial contributions are paid to WODC prior to any occupation of this estate.
For further information about this planning application, please follow: https://publicaccess.westoxon.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=SRU4TORKMTT00
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