THE appeal against the refusal by Daventry Council to build a 200 berth marina on the Oxford Canal has been dismissed.
The original application was by Enzygo Limited for the Water Towers Farm Marina at Barby on the Oxford Canal, but it failed its planning application, subsequently appealing the decision, but the appeal was dismissed the decision being announced this week on Tuesday 9th June.
The application included a marina with 200 berths, 85 car parking spaces, landscaping and associated facilities and the change from agricultural use.
Taken on a narrowboat
The inspector, Keith Manning BSc(Hons) BTP MRTPI appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, took the matter very seriously, actually being taken on a narrowboat along the Braunston Pound, passing the proposed site.
Objectors to the proposed development, notably J Marine Ltd, but latterly supported in this also by Braunston Marina Ltd and the Council itself, submitted that the Environmental Information that had been submitted was inadequate to the task of informing the decision maker, as to the likely environmental effects of the proposal. On that basis alone, it has been submitted, planning permission should be withheld.
Amongst busiest in the country
The Braunston Pound comprises 14 miles of uninterrupted waterway between Napton and Hillmorton, and is amongst the busiest in the country, and there are already nine marinas 'closely associated with the pound', with planning permission existing for the very large 500 berths marina at Onley and a further 123 berths at the 20 berth Blue Haven Marina.
The inspector pointed out that the need for the marina was based on the British Waterways previous generic estimate of income retention of £421,000 per annum within a 32 kilometre radius of a 200 berth marina, but should no longer be relied upon as it was based on 2005 prices, with the demand now considerably lower.
No need for additional capacity
Keith Manning told that all in all, there is no cogent up-to-date evidence of current need for the additional capacity that the proposed marina would provide for, whether inferred from the national picture or more locally based on clear demonstration of frustrated demand for berths.
He concluded that the adverse impacts of allowing the proposed marina development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of doing so, when assessed against the policies of the Framework taken as a whole. Therefore the proposed development cannot be considered to represent sustainable development in that context. For that reason, having taken all other matters raised, including numerous other appeal decisions and various legal rulings, into account, he concluded that the appeal should be dismissed.