Plans for 82 homes have been approved despite concerns over an unsafe play area and home offices that would be unfit to use as bedrooms.
Housing developer David Wilson Homes submitted a planning application to the Vale of White Horse District Council for 82 homes to be built on the former Seven Acres Nursery Site on Faringdon Road in Stanford in the Vale.
The new homes would be part of a wider development which is already under construction after plans were approved in 2018.
Stanford in the Vale Parish Council objected to the development on the grounds the playing area was too close to a main road, for not having solar panels and over concerns that the houses have unfit small rooms “disguised” as home offices.
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Parish Councillor Kevin Middleton said: “The developer is disguising bedrooms as home offices to meet the housing mix.”
He added: “We will end up with an overcrowded development with children growing up in bedrooms that are converted home offices in a village with a school and a play area that is too small and, in a community, deprived of its rightful share of council tax.”
Mr Middleton said: “All these technologies are available today, but the developer has chosen to sacrifice our children’s futures on the alter of profit.”
However, some councillors did highlight that the developer is providing lots of electric vehicle charging points.
David Wilson Homes responded to Mr Middleton and explained in the Vale of White Horse planning meeting that the home offices will be one the ground floor and in some homes on the first floor and would not be suitable to use as a bedroom.
Rebecca Bacon spoke in the meeting on behalf of David Wilson Homes, she said: “With the change in working pattern and people’s lifestyles a home office is desirable.”
She added: “The home office does not meet the minimum standards for a single bedroom.”
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Mr Middleton also criticised the positioning of the play area and said it is too close to the A417 road. He explained it is an “inevitable accident” and said children could easily run out into the road.
He also was disappointed to see a lack of solar panels and heat pumps on the plans.
Councillor Jenny Hannaby also questioned why there was a lack of children’s play equipment and suggested a wheelchair inclusive play area should be built.
The Vale of White Horse District Council approved the plans on the condition the play area would be made safer with mature hedging or a fence to separate the field to a busy road.
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