The Witney Buttercross Scout Group has secured planning permission to transform 6.5 acres of land currently used for horse grazing into a campsite and outdoor activity centre.

On Thursday, May 21, councillors gave the go-ahead for the organisation to develop a site on fields situated north of Park Road in North Leigh.

According to the application, the group ranks among the largest in the country, with approximately 350 children and teenagers aged four to 18, along with 60 grown-up volunteers.

The scheme outlines that the land would serve informal outdoor recreation purposes from March through October during term time, operating between 6pm and 10pm on weekdays and accommodating weekend camping as well as daytime activities during school holidays.

The application further notes that local youth organisations and North Leigh Primary School would also benefit from access to the facilities.

The land sits outside the green belt and any designated conservation zones, with ownership held in a trust for the scouting organisation.

Planning documents indicate that no suitable venue exists elsewhere in West Oxfordshire to meet the group’s needs for outdoor pursuits and overnight camping, which are described as essential to the movement’s educational and developmental mission.

North Oxfordshire currently hosts two scouting campsites at Youlbury and Horley.

A planning officer’s assessment recorded four representations from the public, including submissions from scouting organisations and the North Leigh Parochial Church Council. While all responses backed the scheme because of anticipated community advantages, worries were expressed about vehicle access and the effect on traffic along Park Road.

The report clarified that the development would make use of an existing farm track for entry and exit, which presently serves the allotments and existing stables. The local highway authority reviewed the application and raised no objections regarding traffic matters.

Public transport would provide access to the location, with the Windmill Road bus stop on Park Road situated just 150 metres from the entrance.

Although biodiversity enhancement obligations do not apply to the scheme, planning documents highlight that supplementary tree planting would represent a significant advantage of the project.

An officer observed that the development would bolster local services and community amenities while fostering social wellbeing, interaction and healthy, inclusive neighbourhoods.

The application also mentions that a provisional sanitary facility close to the entrance might be required temporarily while plans for a permanent building are finalised, with this interim solution expected to be dismantled within a reasonable timeframe to protect the landscape and visual character of the area.