A DEVELOPER'S bid to build on one of Bicester's last remaining wild meadows has been thrown out by a government planning inspector.

Gallagher Estates launched an appeal after Cherwell District Council refused planning permission last June for 180 homes on Gavray Meadows.

But this week inspector Richard Schofield dismissed the appeal – a decision which has been applauded by wildlife campaigners following a long-running campaign against the plans.

Dominic Woodfield, an ecologist who found rare butterflies at the site in 2005 and later helped overturn previous planning permission for the meadows in the High Court, said: "We are delighted that the inspector agreed with our case that Gallagher’s proposals were damaging and therefore not compliant with the Local Plan."

The plans from Gallagher Estates were just the first part of a wider scheme to build up to 300 homes on the site.

Cherwell District Council refused permission over wildlife concerns after the company refused to put forward an Ecological Management Plan covering the whole site.

The 23-hectares of land, which sits between Gavray Drive and the London-to-Birmingham railway, is a hotspot for biodiversity in Bicester including the rare black hairstreak butterfly.

In his decision, published this week, Mr Schofield agreed with councillors over the concerns for local wildlife.

He wrote: "The appeal proposal is clearly in conflict with the development plan when taken as a whole.

"The appeal proposal seeks to create some grassland and aquatic habitats, along with additional hedgerow planting. There is no evidence, however, to suggest that there has been a detailed consideration of allocation-wide opportunities to create, restore and enhance 'wildlife corridors'."

The inspector explained although Bicester's Local Plan maps out 300 homes to be built in the area, it also requires any development to take into consideration the ecological impact, and must protect and enhance biodiversity at the site.

Mr Schofield said there was no evidence of this in Gallaghers plans and that the opportunity for this within plans was 'lost'.

Mr Woodfield added: "We hope a clear message has now been sent that attempting to trim off the undevelopable parts of the site or duck the carefully crafted policy will not be tolerated.

"I hope we can now look forward to a more positive proposal from this developer."

Mr Woodfield is among the local campaigners celebrating the latest victory of escaping such 'damaging development'.

Planning and wildlife experts were called on to give evidence in the inquiry including charities such the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and Butterfly Conservation, plus local residents, campaign groups and councillors.

Bicester town councillor for the area Dan Sames, who spoke at the inquiry, said “Our objections to this proposal have never been about preventing development on this site.

"The council’s Local Plan provides a clear road map for a carefully balanced proposal that delivers housing alongside benefits for the ecology of this precious place.

"What we objected to was the developer seeking to build the houses while attempting to avoid the wildlife commitments."

Save Gavray Meadows campaigner Pam Roberts said if access to the meadow was opened up, it would – together with other developments underway – mean every household in Bicester would be within two km of large green space.

The inspector also refused to award costs against the council as requested by Gallaghers Estates for unreasonable rejection by the Cherwell District Council.

Local wildlife campaigner Pat Clissold said: "Most definitely the Local Wildlife Site, Gavray Meadows, must be protected for its valuable habitat and respected.

"The result is a great win for the councillors and for us, the inhabitants of Bicester.

"It is the first time, to my knowledge, that councillors have voted against a large developer contrary to the advice of the council planning officers."

Ms Clissold added: "It has been a great effort from all of us and it is great that this time our efforts have been rewarded.

"It means that Gallagher will no longer feel that they can run rough shod over our wishes and must negotiate and meet us properly."

Gallagher Estates did not provide a comment.

For more details on natural green spaces in Bicester see this week's column from Mrs Roberts on Page 12.