CAMPAIGNERS have condemned the so called ‘no win, no fee’ policy of a developer behind plans for more than 700 homes at sites across Oxfordshire.

Gladman was cited in this week’s Sunday Times as one of a number of developers which do deals with landowners to secure planning permission for sites without charging them a fee.

The landowners then sell the land with permissions to another developer, giving a slice of the profits to the original developer.

Gladman’s planning application for 270 homes off the Burford Road in Witney was rejected by West Oxfordshire District Council’s planning committee on November 17.

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Landowner of the Hill Grove Family Farm Limited site Christopher Brown said: “They [Gladman] have a scheme and we didn’t want to object to it.

“We agreed they could seek planning permission but not anything else, and if it’s agreed we might reconsider.

“We might consider selling it if and when they get planning permission.”.

Jenny Allen – chairwoman of the Windrush Valley Protection Group, which is opposed to the bid – said she was disappointed a greenfield site could be developed purely to generate profit.

She said: ”They don’t care. This company is just by-passing the whole issue of localism.”

Brian Wood, chairman of the Campaign for Rural England Oxfordshire, added: “If the purpose of the planning system is to plan, then this isn’t planning.

“It’s taking advantage of the situation to make some money out of it.”

West Oxford district councillor for Witney Peter Dorward said: “It’s been going on for years and solicitors have been advertising it; that’s just business. It’s very subjective at the end of the day and I don’t necessarily disagree with it.”

Gladman says on its website: ‘Gladman take a proactive approach to strategic land, focusing on optimising the value of potential residential development land.”

Gladman did not comment.

THE SITES

GLADMAN currently has plans for 743 homes at greenfield sites across Oxfordshire. It has submitted a planning application for 95 homes in Kirtlington.

It is appealing against West Oxfordshire District Council’s January rejection of planning permission for 127 homes in Aston Road, Bampton.

It is awaiting the decision of an appeal over 94 homes in Faringdon and is to lodge an appeal against refusal of 54 homes in Hook Norton.

It has bid for 49 homes in Eynsham and a proposal was submitted in September 2014 for 65 homes in Steventon.


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