Site: PR34 South of Sandy Lane, Begbroke Site size (ha): 9.60
Cherwell Green Belt Study 107 April 2017 Site: PR34 South of Sandy Lane, Begbroke Site size (ha): 9.60
Site description
An arable field to the south of Sandy Lane, adjoining the railway line to the east, the Yarnton Lane green road to the west and a disused sewage works to the south. The site is undeveloped and does not adjoin any urban edges: it is slightly nearer, and better connected, to Kidlington than Yarnton (270m along Sandy Lane). Relationship between site, settlement and countryside
The site is separated from Kidlington by a field and by the Oxford Canal, both to the north and the east. The canal forms a strong edge to Kidlington, with all residential development within the urban area contained to the south/east of it. The site forms part of a belt of mostly arable farmland occupying the gaps between Kidlington, Yarnton and Begbroke. Parcels
The site is assessed as one parcel of land.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 108 April 2017 Site: PR34 South of Sandy Lane, Begbroke Site size (ha): 9.60
Parcel: PR34 Parcel area (ha): 9.60
Looking south from Sandy Lane.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 109 April 2017 Site: PR34 South of Sandy Lane, Begbroke Site size (ha): 9.60
Parcel: PR34 Parcel area (ha): 9.60 Contribution to Green Belt purposes
Purpose Comments
Purpose 1: Checking Development here would relate to the expansion of Kidlington or Yarnton, or could sprawl of Oxford potentially constitute an isolated development. It would not be considered sprawl of Oxford. Therefore the parcel plays no role with respect to this purpose.
Purpose 2: The parcel in isolation represents a substantial part of the gap between Kidlington and Preventing merger of Yarnton but not the majority of it. There is open land between the parcel and both settlements settlements, and strong boundary features add to the separation: the canal alongside Kidlington and the railway line and A44 containing the eastern end of Yarnton.
Purpose 3: Connectivity with the wider countryside is limited by the railway line to the west, and there Safeguarding are urbanising influences relatively close by to the north and east (the edges of Kidlington) countryside and south – a solar farm and a haulage and plant hire contractor’s yard (the latter assessed as PR92) –but the parcel is surrounded by open land, in combination with which it represents a sizeable area of undeveloped countryside. The gap between the parcel and the nearest settlements means that development here would represent intrusion into the countryside.
Purpose 4: The parcel has little relationship with Oxford, but if release of land here were to be Preserving Oxford's associated with expansion out from the edge of Kidlington there would be some impact on setting and special the setting of the Oxford Canal. The canal is a historic route into the City which is considered character to make some contribution to its setting and special character, although in close proximity to the urban edge of Kidlington that contribution is fairly limited.
Purpose 5: Assisting All parcels are considered to make an equal contribution to this purpose. urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Potential alternative Green Belt boundary
The parcel does not have a Green Belt boundary, so any release of land would either be isolated, resulting in a new inset area, or associated with release of adjacent land. In association with expansion of Cherwell, the railway line would constitute a strong boundary to the west and Yarnton Lane a relatively strong boundary to the east, but the area they enclose forms a shape which would relate poorly to Kidlington’s existing settlement form (the area to the north and east is assessed as PR20f). Release of land to the south between the parcel and the A44 would also relate poorly to the rest of Yarnton, being separated by the railway line. Harm to Green Belt resulting from release
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR34 in association with Extension of either settlement to incorporate High extension of either Kidlington or Yarnton or the parcel would result in a significant change in isolation in form, representing an encroachment across a strong boundary feature into countryside, and would have a major impact on the settlement gap between Kidlington and Yarnton. An isolated release of land would avoid the minor impact that release of land out from Kidlington would have on Oxford’s historic setting, but would have only marginally less impact on the Kidlington-Yarnton settlement gap, being close enough to Kidlington to compromise the integrity of the canal as a settlement-edge barrier. Cherwell Green Belt Study 110 April 2017 Site: PR34 South of Sandy Lane, Begbroke Site size (ha): 9.60
Release of PR34 in isolation Any isolated release would represent High countryside encroachment. It would avoid the minor impact that release of land out from Kidlington would have on Oxford’s historic setting, but would still have a significant impact on the Kidlington-Yarnton settlement gap, being close enough to Kidlington to be associated with it, and therefore to compromise the integrity of the canal as a settlement-edge boundary.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 111 April 2017 Site: PR34 South of Sandy Lane, Begbroke Site size (ha): 9.60
Harm to Green Belt resulting from partial release of site Harm to Green Belt resulting from release of whole site
Cherwell Green Belt Study 112 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Cherwell Green Belt Study 113 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Site description
Transport routes subdivide this site into three distinct areas: • Open pasture between the A34 and the railway line, to the north of the buildings of Pear Tree Farm; • North Oxford Golf Club, between the railway line and the A4165; • Farmland in the area between the A4165, Cutteslowe, St Frideswide Farm and the Water Eaton Park and Ride. The urban edge abuts the site just to the west of Pear Tree Farm (the farm buildings are inside the Green Belt but outside of PR38), along Linkside Avenue and Jordan Hill Road to the south of the golf course and, to the east of the A4165, alongside Cutteslowe Park other than along a c.250m stretch where the district boundary stops short of the urban edge. Relationship between site, settlement and countryside
The site as a whole constitutes the larger part of the Green Belt between the nearest edges of Oxford and Kidlington – the so-called ‘Kidlington Gap’. The Green Belt in this area is dominated by, and fragmented by, transport infrastructure: major connecting roads combine with built development at Water Eaton to reduce the perceived gap between Oxford and Kidlington, but roads also serve to contain the central and western parts of the site, reducing the extent to which they relate to the wider countyside. These containing influences do not apply to the farmland west of the A4165: this section of the site is, topographically, visually and in land-use, part of the Cherwell valley, a landscape which remains open all the way into the heart of Oxford. The site does not encroach on the ‘core’ of the valley but nonetheless relates strongly to it. Parcels
Three separate parcels are identified within this site, reflecting its subdivision by transport infrastructure: • PR38a: to the west of the railway line; • PR38b: the golf course; • PR38c: to the east of the A4165.
It should be noted that: • Parcel PR38a is also assessed separately as Site PR122; • The south-western part of parcel PR38b is also assessed separately as Site PR123; • Parcel PR38b is also assessed separately as PR50a; • Parcel PR38c is also assessed separately as part of PR50b.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 114 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Parcel: PR38a Parcel area (ha): 6.26
Looking south-west from the railway footbridge on the edge of the golf course towards the Holiday Inn.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 115 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Parcel: PR38a Parcel area (ha): 6.26 Contribution to Green Belt purposes
Purpose Comments
Purpose 1: Checking The parcel shares a short boundary with the urban edge, alongside the Holiday Inn. sprawl of Oxford Development out from this edge would need to cross a belt of trees, a relatively strong boundary which also forms the Green Belt edge to the Pear Tree Park and Ride to the east, but the A34, a substantial road framed by tree cover and running in cut through most of this area, would contain any development within this parcel and therefore limit the extent to which it would be perceived as sprawl.
Purpose 2: The parcel’s containment limits its contribution to the settlement gap between Oxford and Preventing merger of Kidlington, but its release would nonetheless reduce the distance between the settlements, settlements as perceived from the A34 and the railway line.
Purpose 3: This is physically and visually a fairly contained area that does not relate strongly to the Safeguarding wider countryside. The Pear Tree Farm buildings are not an urbanising influence, but countryside proximity to the A34 and railway line does detract from countryside character.
Purpose 4: There is no relationship between this area and Oxford’s historic core, and undeveloped Preserving Oxford's hillsides and river floodplains are recognised as the key landscape elements in the town’s setting and special setting, but the extent of visibility of built development from the ring roads that largely character contain the city can also be considered to play a role in perception of Oxford’s rural setting. In this respect the openness of the parcel makes some limited contribution to setting.
Purpose 5: Assisting All parcels are considered to make an equal contribution to this purpose. urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Potential alternative Green Belt boundary
The A34 would constitute a strong physical Green Belt boundary to this parcel. There is currently a very limited perception of built development from the A34, so there is not a strong sense that this marks a distinction between urban and rural areas; however this may potentially change with the development of the Oxford Northern Gateway on land including, and to the south of, the hotels and park and ride at the Pear Tree roundabout. Release would also leave the Pear Tree Farm buildings isolated from the rest of the Green Belt, with little justification for remaining in the designated area. Harm to Green Belt resulting from release
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR38a The release of parcel 38a would represent an Moderate expansion of Oxford northward in a sensitive gap, and it would to some extent weaken the Green Belt role of the adjacent golf course (parcel PR38b) by increasing development alongside the A34 and narrowing the gap to Oxford Parkway station. However this is physically and visually a fairly contained area that does not relate strongly to the wider countryside. Release would also leave the Pear Tree Farm buildings isolated from the rest of the Green Belt, with little justification for remaining in the designated area.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 116 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Parcel: PR38b Parcel area (ha): 31.60
Looking south from the railway footbridge on the edge of the golf course towards the northern urban edge of Oxford at Lakeside.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 117 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Parcel: PR38b Parcel area (ha): 31.60 Contribution to Green Belt purposes
Purpose Comments
Purpose 1: Checking The parcel is adjacent to the urban edge of Oxford. Although contained by strong boundaries sprawl of Oxford the terrain of the golf course, with a hill at the southern end, marks it out as distinct from the flatter urban area.
Purpose 2: The golf course is a principal element in the gap between Oxford and Kidlington. Its size, Preventing merger of extensive tree cover and topography – the southern half of the course is located on a hill – settlements makes it a physical and visual barrier between the settlements, the development of which would leave a gap offering very little physical or perceptual separation. It therefore plays a critical role in settlement separation.
Purpose 3: The nature of the golf course landscaping as well as its physical containment by road and rail Safeguarding gives it some distinction from the surrounding countryside, but it has a stronger visual countryside relationship with the countryside than with the settlement edge, from which it is largely separated by tall lines of conifers. The parcel therefore provides relatively strong protection against encroachment.
Purpose 4: There is no relationship between this area and Oxford’s historic core, and the area is not Preserving Oxford's elevated enough to form part of the green backdrop to views out from the City, but the setting and special parcel's low hilltop location and wooded character do provide a containing edge in views character towards Oxford from the north, and from more distant high ground. This adds a rural character to Oxford's setting at close proximity to the City.
Purpose 5: Assisting All parcels are considered to make an equal contribution to this purpose. urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Potential alternative Green Belt boundary
The parcel has strong outer boundary features, the railway and A4165, with both of these and the A34 combining to form a dense block of infrastructure at the northern tip. There are no existing east-west boundary features within the golf course, so a new edge would need to be created were a partial release to be considered. Limiting Green Belt release to the southern part of the parcel would reduce adverse effects on the settlement gap, but not to any great extent because the hilltop landform here increases its visual contribution. Only the lower, western side of the hill is more contained within the landscape. Harm to Green Belt resulting from release
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR38b The physical prominence of the golf course High makes it an important buffer feature on the urban edge, limiting perception of the city before entering the built-up area and therefore playing an important role in maintaining the ‘Kidlington Gap’. The concentration of roads, rail, lighting, pylons, car parking and the station building, and to an extent, the golf course, limit the countryside character of the settlement gap but do not diminish the fact that an open gap exists and serves a stated Green Belt purpose. Release of PR38b would leave very limited justification for retaining PR38a in the Green Belt, and would also weaken the justification for retaining the Green Belt status of Oxford Parkway and the Water Eaton Park and Ride. This release would result in the A34 becoming Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
the Green Belt boundary from the Northern Gateway up to Oxford Parkway station, leaving only the width of a single field to separate Oxford from Kidlington. Release of PR38b would also mean that land in PR38c, adjacent to the A4165 and contained to the south by the urban edge and to the north by the development at Water Eaton, would have a stronger relationship with the urban form than at present. Release of the southern half of PR38b, Limiting Green Belt release to the southern Moderate high retaining a moderate level of tree cover part of the parcel would reduce the adverse (see ratings map at end of site assessment) impact on the settlement gap, but not to any great extent because the hilltop landform here increases its visual contribution. Release of the south-western part of There is potential for reducing harm through a Moderate PR38b, retaining a moderate level of tree more limited release of land adjacent to the cover (see ratings map at end of site settlement edge. The lower, western side of assessment) the hill is more contained within the landscape, so its release would cause limited harm in terms of the settlement gap, encroachment on countryside and historic character, but it would constitute a degree of sprawl. Release would slightly weaken justification for retaining land to the west of the railway line (assessed as parcel PR122 and PR38a) in the Green Belt, which would in turn contribute to a strengthened perception of the A34 representing a boundary to the urban edge.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 119 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Parcel: PR38c Parcel area (ha): 47.78
Looking east from bridleway / access road to Water Eaton Manor, just east of the A4165 Oxford Road.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 120 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Parcel: PR38c Parcel area (ha): 47.78 Contribution to Green Belt purposes
Purpose Comments
Purpose 1: Checking There is no strong separation from the urban edge at Cutteslowe, but Cutteslowe Park sports sprawl of Oxford pitches represent a transition into this visually open, valley landscape. There are no strong landscape features to contain development. Perception of development as sprawl would increase with distance from the existing settlement edge (either along the A4165 or into the countryside).
Purpose 2: The parcel occupies most of the gap between Oxford and Kidlington to the east of the Preventing merger of A4165, any development is likely to be very exposed in this visually open landscape. There settlements is a moderate slope down northwards from the road to Water Eaton Manor which currently prevents intervisibility between the northern and southern parts of the parcel and strengthens its settlement-separating role; development encroaching on this slope would have a significant impact on reducing the settlement gap.
Purpose 3: This parcel forms part of a broad valley with consistent land use and field patterns. Any Safeguarding development here would encroach on the countryside. countryside
Purpose 4: The Cherwell valley is an important element in Oxford’s wider historic setting, but the Preserving Oxford's contribution of the western fringe of the valley to its character is more limited than the setting and special contribution of the lower valley floor in this area. character
Purpose 5: Assisting All parcels are considered to make an equal contribution to this purpose. urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Potential alternative Green Belt boundary
The outer edges of the parcel are hedgerows, which do not constitute strong boundary features, but the existing settlement edge at Cutteslowe is not strongly defined either. There would be potential to define an alternative Green Belt boundary within the south-western part of the parcel, releasing land that would result in less harm to Green Belt purposes than release of the parcel as a whole. This assumes that the Green Belt area adjacent to the settlement edge alongside the A4165 that lies within the City of Oxford is also released. Harm to Green Belt resulting from release
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR38c Release of PR38c would cause a considerable High reduction in the settlement gap between Oxford and Kidlington, and would also weaken the justification for retaining the Green Belt status of the adjacent Oxford Parkway and the Water Eaton Park and Ride. This release would result in the A34 becoming the Green Belt boundary from the Northern Gateway up to Oxford Parkway station, leaving only the width of a single field to separate Oxford from Kidlington. The concentration of roads, rail, lighting, pylons, car parking and the station building, and to an extent, the golf course, limit the countryside character of the settlement gap but do not diminish the fact that an open gap exists and serves a stated Green Belt purpose.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 121 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Release of south-western corner of PR38c – The parcel relates strongly to the wider Moderate high assuming that the Green Belt area adjacent Cherwell valley countryside, so loss of to the settlement edge alongside the A4165 openness up to St Frideswide Farm would still that lies within the City of Oxford is also constitute a significant countryside released, and that any development is low encroachment, but there would be potential to enough to avoid significant visual impact release land on the western edge without on the gap between the settlement edge significantly affecting the area closer to the and Oxford Parkway (see ratings map at River Cherwell that plays a strong role in end of site assessment) Oxford’s historic setting. This release would leave the field to the south-west (assessed as PR211b) entirely contained, with no justification for its retention as Green Belt.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 122 April 2017 Site: PR38 North Oxford Triangle, Kidlington Site size (ha): 89.48
Harm to Green Belt resulting from release of site
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR38 in its entirety The site as a whole is critical to the maintenance of High separation between Oxford and Kidlington, and would represent significant sprawl of the large urban area of Oxford.
Harm to Green Belt resulting from partial release of site Harm to Green Belt resulting from release of whole site
Cherwell Green Belt Study 123 April 2017 Site: PR39 Frieze Farm, Woodstock Road, Oxford Site size (ha): 38.52
Cherwell Green Belt Study 124 April 2017 Site: PR39 Frieze Farm, Woodstock Road, Oxford Site size (ha): 38.52
Site description
The site is one large, arable field, along with the Frieze Farm buildings, which are used as commercial office premises, together with a smaller field and a buffer strip of vegetation. Within the site there is strong separation between the main body of farmland to the west of the A4260, the narrower field between the A4260 and the A34, and the buffer strip between the A34 and the railway. Relationship between site, settlement and countryside
The site has strong physical containment, by the A44 (south-west), the A4260 (south), the railway line (west), Stratfield Brake woodland (north) and the Oxford Canal (north-west). To the south of the A4260, the A34 and Peartree interchange create strong separation from the urban edge (land which has recently been released to create the Oxford Northern Gateway development). Peartree Hill forms a high point at the southern end of the site, adding to the separation between this site and Oxford, the northern extents of which lie on land sloping southwards. Stratfield Brake, a publically accessible combination of woodland, wetland and meadow managed by the Woodland Trust, forms a strong buffer between the site and Kidlington to the north. Parcels
The site is assessed as two parcels of land: PR39a to the west of the A4260 and PR39b to the east.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 125 April 2017 Site: PR39 Frieze Farm, Woodstock Road, Oxford Site size (ha): 38.52
Parcel: PR39a Parcel area (ha): 29.95
Looking east from Oxford Canal.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 126 April 2017 Site: PR39 Frieze Farm, Woodstock Road, Oxford Site size (ha): 38.52
Parcel: PR39a Parcel area (ha): 29.95 Contribution to Green Belt purposes
Purpose Comments
Purpose 1: Checking The parcel is close to the edge of Oxford but separated from it by major roads and sprawl of Oxford topography. Expansion of Oxford into this area would therefore constitute significant sprawl beyond these barriers.
Purpose 2: The parcel forms a large proportion of the gap between Oxford and Kidlington, and also of Preventing merger of the gap between Oxford and Yarnton. The Stratfield Brake Woodland Trust site constitutes a settlements significant separating element, but any expansion of Oxford beyond the A34 would have a strong impact on the perception of settlement separation.
Purpose 3: Major roads create some separation from the wider countryside, but this is to a degree offset Safeguarding by the parcel’s elevation and its orientation away from Oxford and towards the rural countryside landscape to the north-west and west. The Frieze Farm buildings, although in non- agricultural use, do not represent an urbanising influence. The parcel constitutes a sizeable area of countryside in its own right, and any development within it would represent significant encroachment into the countryside.
Purpose 4: The parcel lacks direct association with the historic city centre, but the openness of this land Preserving Oxford's sloping away from Oxford contributes to the City's rural setting. Its relationship with the setting and special Oxford Canal, an important historical route into the City, adds to its contribution to setting. character
Purpose 5: Assisting All parcels are considered to make an equal contribution to this purpose. urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Potential alternative Green Belt boundary
The parcel has strong boundary features: major roads, a canal and woodland. There are no alternative boundary features within the parcel. Harm to Green Belt resulting from release
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR39a PR39a lacks relationship with the urban fringe High of Oxford but is too close to it to be associated with other settlements. Any development in this area would therefore be considered significant sprawl and an encroachment on countryside that would significantly reduce the gap between Oxford and Kidlington/ Yarnton and would adversely affect the historic setting of the City. Breaching the A34 would also weaken the role of the Green Belt to the south- west, in the area contained by the A34, A40, A44 and Oxford Canal (assessed as site PR41).
Cherwell Green Belt Study 127 April 2017 Site: PR39 Frieze Farm, Woodstock Road, Oxford Site size (ha): 38.52
Parcel: PR39b Parcel area (ha): 8.72
Looking south-west from the A4165 bridge across the A34; land to both sides of the road is in the parcel.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 128 April 2017 Site: PR39 Frieze Farm, Woodstock Road, Oxford Site size (ha): 38.52
Parcel: PR39b Parcel area (ha): 8.72 Contribution to Green Belt purposes
Purpose Comments
Purpose 1: Checking The parcel is close to the edge of Oxford but strongly isolated by major transport routes. sprawl of Oxford Expansion of Oxford into this area would therefore constitute major sprawl beyond these barriers.
Purpose 2: The parcel forms a large proportion of the gap between Oxford and Kidlington. The Stratfield Preventing merger of Brake Woodland Trust site constitutes a significant separating element, but any expansion of settlements Oxford beyond the A34 would have a strong impact on perception of settlement separation.
Purpose 3: Major roads create separation from the wider countryside but also strong separation from Safeguarding the urban edge. countryside
Purpose 4: This land is too influenced and contained by transport links to contribute to Oxford’s historic Preserving Oxford's setting. setting and special character
Purpose 5: Assisting All parcels are considered to make an equal contribution to this purpose. urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Potential alternative Green Belt boundary
Both sections of the parcel have strong boundary features.
Harm to Green Belt resulting from release
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR39b PR39b lacks relationship with the urban fringe High of Oxford but is too close to it to be associated with other settlements. Any development in this area would therefore be considered significant sprawl and an encroachment on countryside that would reduce the gap between Oxford and Kidlington/Yarnton.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 129 April 2017 Site: PR39 Frieze Farm, Woodstock Road, Oxford Site size (ha): 38.52
Harm to Green Belt resulting from release of site
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR39 in its entirety PR39 lacks relationship with the urban fringe of High Oxford but is too close to it to be associated with other settlements. Any development in this area would therefore be considered significant sprawl and an encroachment on countryside that would significantly reduce the gap between Oxford and Kidlington/Yarnton and would adversely affect the historic setting of the City. Breaching the A34 would also weaken the role of the Green Belt to the south- west (in the area contained by the A34, A40, A44 and Oxford Canal, assessed as site PR41) and south- east.
Harm to Green Belt resulting from partial release of site Harm to Green Belt resulting from release of whole site
Cherwell Green Belt Study 130 April 2017 Site: PR41 Land at Drinkwater, Oxford Site size (ha): 30.35
Cherwell Green Belt Study 131 April 2017 Site: PR41 Land at Drinkwater, Oxford Site size (ha): 30.35
Site description
A series of pasture fields contained between the Oxford Canal and three major roads – the A44, A34 and A40 – together with the buildings of Loop Farm located to the west of the rest of the site, between the Oxford Canal and Kingsbridge Brook. There are also two residential dwellings on the eastern edge of the site, to either side of the access road to Loop Farm from the A44. Relationship between site, settlement and countryside
The site has strong physical containment, by the A44 (to the north-east), the A34 (south-east), A40 (south) and Oxford Canal (to the west, although the Loop Farm buildings lie beyond it, accessed by a swing bridge). The A34 and Peartree interchange create strong separation from the urban edge (land which has recently been released to create the Oxford Northern Gateway development). Peartree Hill forms a high point to the east, so the site lies on a west- facing slope, adding to its separation from Oxford. Development within the parcel is not considered to constitute an urbanising influence. Parcels
The site is assessed as two parcels of land: • PR41a: land to the south of the Loop Farm access road; • PR41b: land to the north of the Loop Farm access road, including the farm buildings to the west of the Oxford Canal. It should be noted that the main body of PR41b (excluding the Loop Farm buildings) is also assessed as PR177, the Loop Farm buildings within PR41b are also assessed as part of PR168 and one of the fields in PR41a is assessed as PR124.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 132 April 2017 Site: PR41 Land at Drinkwater, Oxford Site size (ha): 30.35
Parcel: PR41a Parcel area (ha): 22.70
Looking south-east from the Oxford Canal, close to the King's Canal Bridge
Cherwell Green Belt Study 133 April 2017 Site: PR41 Land at Drinkwater, Oxford Site size (ha): 30.35
Parcel: PR41a Parcel area (ha): 22.70 Contribution to Green Belt purposes
Purpose Comments
Purpose 1: Checking The A34 along the south-eastern edge of the parcel forms the urban edge of Oxford. This is sprawl of Oxford a strong boundary feature, and separation from the urban area is further strengthened by topography, with the site forming part of eastern side of the valley of the River Thames. The expansion of Oxford into this area would therefore constitute significant sprawl.
Purpose 2: The parcel forms part of the gap between Oxford and Yarnton, and also makes a minor Preventing merger of contribution to the gap between Oxford and Kidlington. settlements
Purpose 3: The parcel’s topographical orientation, similarity of land use with pastures to the west, Safeguarding separation from Oxford and absence of any development relate it more strongly to the countryside countryside than to urban areas. Development within the parcel would therefore represent significant encroachment into the countryside.
Purpose 4: The openness of this land sloping away from Oxford contributes to the rural setting of Preserving Oxford's Oxford. Its relationship with the Oxford Canal, an important historical route into the City, setting and special adds to its contribution to setting. character
Purpose 5: Assisting All parcels are considered to make an equal contribution to this purpose. urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Potential alternative Green Belt boundary
The major roads and canal constitute strong boundary features. To the north the belt of trees alongside the Loop Farm access road, marking the course of a former railway line, form a moderately strong boundary which continues to the west. Hedgerows within the site would form weaker boundaries to a more limited development north from the urban edge. Harm to Green Belt resulting from release
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR41a PR41a lacks relationship with the urban fringe High of Oxford. Any development in this area would be urban sprawl and encroachment on countryside that would reduce the gap between Oxford and Yarnton and would adversely affect the historic setting of the City. Partial release of the parcel would not result in significantly less harm to the Green Belt, as crossing the A34 barrier is the key factor.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 134 April 2017 Site: PR41 Land at Drinkwater, Oxford Site size (ha): 30.35
Parcel: PR41b Parcel area (ha): 7.36
Looking south-east from Oxford Canal.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 135 April 2017 Site: PR41 Land at Drinkwater, Oxford Site size (ha): 30.35
Parcel: PR41b Parcel area (ha): 7.36 Contribution to Green Belt purposes
Purpose Comments
Purpose 1: Checking The A34 forms the urban edge of Oxford. This is a strong boundary feature, and separation sprawl of Oxford from the urban area is further strengthened by topography, with the site forming part of eastern side of the valley of the River Thames. The expansion of Oxford as far as this parcel would therefore constitute major sprawl.
Purpose 2: The parcel does not abut the urban edge, so this would form an isolated release of Green Preventing merger of Belt unless associated with the release of PR41a to the south. Land between the site and settlements Yarnton has not been identified as potential development land, so expansion south from Yarnton is not considered as a release scenario. Together with PR41a the parcel forms a major part of the gap between Oxford and Yarnton, and also makes a minor contribution to the gap between Oxford and Kidlington.
Purpose 3: The parcel’s topographical orientation, similarity of land use with pastures to the west, Safeguarding separation from Oxford and absence of any urbanising development relate it more strongly countryside to the countryside than to urban areas. The Loop Farm buildings, located to the west of the Oxford Canal are even more detached from the urban area. Development within the parcel would therefore represent significant encroachment into the countryside.
Purpose 4: The openness of this land sloping away from Oxford contributes to the rural setting of Preserving Oxford's Oxford. Its relationship with the Oxford Canal, an important historical route into the City, setting and special adds to its contribution to setting. character
Purpose 5: Assisting All parcels are considered to make an equal contribution to this purpose. urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land
Potential alternative Green Belt boundary
The major roads and canal constitute strong boundary features. The hedgerow within the site would form a weaker boundary to a more limited development north from the urban edge. Harm to Green Belt resulting from release
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR41b PR41b lacks relationship with the urban fringes High of Oxford or Yarnton. Expansion out from Oxford would be urban sprawl, and any development, whether associated with the extension of Oxford or taking place in isolation, would constitute encroachment on countryside that would significantly reduce the perceived gap between the two settlements, impinge on the Oxford-Kidlington gap and adversely affect the historic setting of the City.
Cherwell Green Belt Study 136 April 2017 Site: PR41 Land at Drinkwater, Oxford Site size (ha): 30.35
Harm to Green Belt resulting from release of site
Scenario Comments Rating
Release of PR41 in its entirety PR41a lacks relationship with the urban fringe of High Oxford. Any development in this area would be urban sprawl and encroachment on countryside that would reduce the gap between Oxford and Yarnton and would adversely affect the historic setting of the City.
Harm to Green Belt resulting from partial release of site Harm to Green Belt resulting from release of whole site
Cherwell Green Belt Study 137 April 2017