Mobile: 0794 120 1995
It relates to 'The Grange' land along Devizes Road.
The planning inspector dismissed the appeal.
If you want a copy of the full decision please contact me. The closing part of the appeal is below.
"In considering this appeal on its merits, I have found that the proposed development would cause unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the surrounding area and fail to preserve the character and appearance of the Conservation Area, conflicting with the relevant Core Strategy policies. It would also fail to comply with the Council’s settlement and delivery strategy policies CP1 and CP2. I have found that there would be the benefits of adding up-to 26 dwellings to local housing supply, including some needed affordable housing, in a sustainable location in terms of accessibility to services and facilities. There would also be the likely economic and social benefits of construction related employment and future support of village services and facilities by prospective residents. However, these benefits would not be sufficient to outweigh the conflicts with the development plan and it would therefore not be a sustainable form of development."
It is good to see that the inspector agrees with the decision of the Wiltshire Council western area plannng committee which refused the application against the recommendation of the planning officer who stated that the application should be permitted.
This shows the value of the planning call-in system and I am pleased to be a member of the committee which serves its communities.
Ironically, the applicant applied for costs against the council, presumably as they felt that the council had acted unreasonably. As the appeal was dismissed I imagine that the costs application will be too. A shame that WC had not made a costs application against the applicant, as I had suggested, to cover itself for the officer time wasted by the appeal process.