Planning and development consultancy, Tetlow King, is delighted to have secured outline planning permission (with all matters reserved apart from access) on behalf of Lone Star Land for the phased development of up to 16 self-build plots, including up to 7 discount market value plots for affordable homeownership, in the village of Aston near Witney – subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement.
The application was presented before West Oxfordshire planning committee on Monday 12th October 2026, where it was subject to rigorous discussion before being approved by members.
The proposal was accompanied by an indicative layout and Design Code – to which officers requested amendments be secured by condition.
The scheme includes a high-quality Landscape Strategy which proposes the reinforcement of the southern hedgerow with native species, together with traditional orchards, species rich grassland, mixed scrub, new tree planting and a significant landscape buffer to screen the site when viewed from the north.
Credit: Align Architecture and Lone Star Land
West Oxfordshire currently cannot currently demonstrate a 5-Year Housing Land Supply whilst Teltow King provided evidence that the Council is also failing its statutory duty with respect to those on its Self-Build Register. In accordance with the 2026 NPPF National Decision-Making Policy HO7 therefore, the delivery of 16 self-build plots attracted substantial weight in respect of both the contribution to the overall housing supply and to the delivery of much-needed self-build plots in the district.
Whilst located outside the built form of Aston, the site was found to be well-related to the settlement and officers and members both agreed that NDMP S5(1)(j), which permits development that is physically well-related to an existing settlement and which would address an evidenced unmet need, was engaged – because of the five year housing land supply shortfall and due to the statutory duty failure against Section 2A of the Self-Build and Custom Housebuilding Act (as amended).
Furthermore, Policy H2 of the West Oxfordshire Local plan was engaged, which allows housing development on “undeveloped land adjoining the built-up area where convincing evidence is presented to demonstrate that it is necessary to meet identified housing needs”.
Members naturally had concerns relating to the development of a greenfield site and the potential for impact upon the landscape, however this decision further confirms the value that proposing self and custom build plots can contribute towards bolstering the benefits of a scheme and helping to tip the balance towards approval.
