Policy DBC7: Important Views
- The Neighbourhood Plan identifies Important Views on the Policies Maps (page 63), table 5 and map 12 (below) as contributing to the essential rural character of the Parish for the application of national decision-making on creating well-designed places and improving the natural environment.
Ref no Name Location 1 Rough Copse LCA4 2 Farmoor Reservoir LCA2 3 Denman’s Copse LCA8 4 Beacon Hill LCA4 5a & 5b Red House Farm LCA7 6a, 6b &6c St Michael’s Church LCA10 7 Long Leys Meadow LCA9 8 Bradley Farm LCA13 9 Western Edge of Hurst Hill LCA13 10 Footpath at Cumnor Hill LCA13 11 Hids & Shadwell Copses LCA12 12a, 12b & 12c Cumnor Beacon LCA14 13 Oxford Green Belt Way LCA13 14a & 14b Chilswell Farm LCA14 15 Chawley Lane LCA12 16 Denman’s Farm LCA2 17 Pinkhill Lock 1 LCA2 18 Pinkhill Lock 2 LCA2 19 Pinkhill Nature Reserve LCA2 20a & 20b Pinkhill Meadow and Buckthorn Meadow Nature Reserve & Farmoor Reservoir LCA2 21 Thames side pasture nr Lower Whitley Farm LCA2 22 Whitley Copse and Physic Well LCA2 23 The Singing Way LCA6 24 The Bird Hide, Denman’s Lane LCA8 25 Hurst Hill SE Corner LCA13 26 Oxford Green Belt Way, Henwood Farm LCA13 27 Chilswell Path, Powder Hill Copse LCA14 28 Limekiln Copse LCA14 29 Chilswell Farm Cottages LCA14 30 Cumnor Hill Top LCA13 31 Smith Hill Copse LCA8 Table 5 Cumnor Parish Important Views
Development proposals should preserve, or where practicable enhance, the local character of the landscape in general and should take account of the important views as identified on map 12 and as listed in table 5 in particular. Development proposals which would have an unacceptable impact on the local character of the landscape and/or on an identified important view will not be supported.
- These views are kinetic and so there is rarely one single viewing place. It is rather a viewing area. Applicants will be required to demonstrate that views have been identified and that the quality of views is not compromised by unsympathetic development. Reference should be made to the relevant Character Assessment(s), attached as Appendix A but forming part of the NDP, and associated maps/plans when deciding applications that affect the identified important views. Development proposals are expected to accord with national policy provisions on creating well-designed places and improving the natural environment which currently includes National Policies N.2.1.d which states that proposals should “Conserve and enhance existing natural features of visual, historic or nature conservation value (such as established trees and hedgerows) wherever possible; and use appropriate landscaping to help create a well-designed place and integrate the development into its surroundings;” and DP3.1.a which states “respond to the history, character and features of the site and its setting, so that it integrates into and enhances its surroundings (such as through the arrangement of development plots and buildings, the use of materials and architectural features, and the restoration , reuse and integration of heritage assets). This should not preclude innovation and change where appropriate, especially where an increased scale or density of development is justified in accordance with policies L2 and L3;” (which also reflects the provisions of paras. 135 and 187 of the 2024 NPPF).