District to launch legal challenge over grant by inspector of permission for 133-unit retirement village

South Oxfordshire District Council is to make a High Court challenge to a planning inspector’s decision over a retirement village.

It had refused permission for a 133-unit Inspired Villages retirement complex, known as Little Sparrows, due to its potential impact on the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.    

But an inspector overturned this on appeal and gave the project permission.

The council said it had legal advice that sufficient grounds existed to challenge the inspector’s decision and has applied to the High Court for judicial review.  

Support for the district’s action has come from an alliance of nine parish councils concerned about the expected impact of the project on the AONB.

Inspired Villages has been contacted for comment.

Mark Smulian