A VILLAGE estate plan has been refused by councillors against planners’ recommendation.

Pye Homes’ 26-home plan for East Hendred was thrown out by Vale of White Horse District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday night when councillors voted seven to six against plans for land north of Portway Villas.

Opponents said the estate was outside the main development area of the village, contrary to council rules.

Committee chairman Robert Sharp said: “It was refused on the ground that it was going out into the countryside.”

However, Vale planning officer Laura Hudson recommended it for approval because it would meet the council’s shortfall in land for new homes.

The Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires district councils to identify sites to meet housing demand for the next five years.

Ms Hudson said: “It is accepted that the application does not accord with the development plan. In light of the current housing land shortfall the proposal has to be assessed against the NPPF.”

She said: “The layout and design reflect the local vernacular and the proposal includes a bus stop in each direction and a controlled pedestrian crossing linking the development to the village.”

The developer would have given £61,656 for highways improvements, £22,035 for bus service improvements and created a new pedestrian crossing.

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