A HOUSING developer has been turned down for the third to build on a plot of land at Castle End in the Lea.

In September 2022, Churcham Homes Ltd lost an appeal to the planning inspector to allow a development of up to nine dwellings and in March 2023, a proposed development of four houses was also refused by Herefordshire Council.

And now Herefordshire planners have refused an application in principle to build three dwellings on the same on the 0.15-hectare plot of land.

Planning officer Joshua Evans observed that this application is viewed as an attempt to circumvent previous refusals and added: “While Herefordshire Council is currently unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, the proposed development is located outside the defined settlement boundary and would result in harm to the setting of the Grade II* listed Castle End Farm.

“Building on this plot would therefore undermine the historic functional and spatial relationship between the heritage asset and its associated buildings, resulting in harm to its setting and significance.

“Furthermore, the development would encroach into the open countryside, eroding the rural character of this landscapes historic setting.

Churcham Homes pointed out that while the site is located just outside the defined settlement boundary of Lea in the Neighbourhood Plan, that it is not detached from the settlement.

The agent Steve Mitchell stated that the density of any development would be in line with surrounding properties and that the current proposal would comprise of single storey dwellings.

Mr Evans stated that the site lies within the catchment of the River Wye Special Area of Conservation, which is in an ‘unfavourable and declining’ condition and added: “The development is considered likely to have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the river’s conservation area.”

Mr Evans concluded: “Therefore, ‘permission in principle’ cannot lawfully be granted and is refused.”