A NINE-storey tower block of flats will be built after previously being denied permission, a planning inspector has ruled.

And the 150-flat tower at Botley's West Way development will be allowed to go ahead while its owner pays less towards local affordable homes than originally planned.

The tower will be built at the West Way development in Botley, an area which has already seen a mixed development of flats, shops and a Premier Inn built on land wedged alongside the A34.

The Botley Development Company, a consortium responsible for the West Way, already had permission for an eight-storey tower containing 120 flats when it sought out planning permission for a new nine-storey block last year.

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Despite evidence from the company that the 120-flat development was no longer viable, Vale of White Horse district council planning committee members refused permission for the taller block planned in its place.

Planning inspector John Longmuir has now overturned the district council's decision and the extra tall tower block will be allowed to go ahead.

Mr Longmuir acknowledged the building was tall and overbearing as the council had said, but added it would only have a 'limited' impact because of nearby tall buildings like Seacourt Tower.

He also said the current empty buildings where the tower block would be built were 'drab and forlorn'.

The West Way development in January 2020. Picture by Ed Nix.

The West Way development in January 2020. Picture by Ed Nix.

On new residents' cars, he said people living in the extra 30 flats could be warned they would not be able use the car park alongside the new building, and added there were 'frequent and quick bus connections' to Oxford.

Mr Longmuir also said the Botley Development Company should be allowed to pay less money towards affordable housing.

The company had originally agreed to pay £2m to fund affordable homes in the Vale, but in its new application had insisted this should be reduced to £1m, setting aside more flats elsewhere on the site for affordable rent instead.

The council has a requirement for all new housing developments above a certain size to contain 35 per cent affordable homes, but Mr Longmuir was satisfied with the Botley Development Company's explanation that this would make the new flats 'unviable', and said they could go ahead while only paying half of the original planned contribution.#

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Emily Smith, a district councillors for Botley and Sunningwell, said: "Residents seem angry that a local decision can be overturned by the national planning inspectorate. There seems to be frustration that a decision can be made but then overturned by an inspector who doesn't necessarily understand the area."

A spokesperson for Botley Development Company said: “We are delighted with the planning inspectorate’s decision to approve our revised plans for Phase 2 at West Way Square in Botley, which will help us create much needed housing for the community, adding 30 more new homes to the existing plans.

"We've worked closely with the community over the last two years to make sure that our plans deliver what's needed locally - and so it's fantastic to see the new public library and community facilities are already beginning to make an impact.”