Shed in countryside rejected

A SHED in Lewknor may have to be removed after retrospective planning permission was turned down.

Peter Sabba, from Hillingdon, applied to South Oxfordshire District Council for the 20ft by 16ft wooden shed on land on the north-west side of Icknield Way.

The shed had a metal roof, uPVC windows and is painted green.

Lewknor Parish Council had raised concerns about the potential for the shed to be turned into a habitable space.

It said: “In the opinion of the councillors, it was felt that the structure, while being of wooden construction, appears to be more than a shed given it is insulated and has uPVC sealed unit windows which would suggest that it could be used as a habitable structure.

“The detail on the application states that this is for tools, shelter for livestock and a place to sit out of the elements, although it looks to be of a more permanent nature being erected on concrete footings and not what would traditionally be regarded as a storage building.

“The council would therefore like to record its concerns that this may well become a habitable building at some point in the future and certainly has the potential to become such and that this should be regarded as a concern when a planning decision is reached.

“We would also like to suggest that if the planning officer is minded to grant this application it may be appropriate to attach a condition to safeguard against this usage.”

The district council has now rejected the application saying that there was “insufficient justifiction” for it.

It said: “The site is located within the countryside and forms part of the sensitive landscape setting of the Chilterns National Landscape.

“The proposed shed is used in connection with a hobby/leisure use of the land, and is not required in relation to any rural business use and there is insufficient justification for the development in this sensitive location, which lies adjacent to the Ridgeway National Trail and forms part of the landscape setting of the Chilterns National Landscape.”