A LOCAL developer has won a planning battle to build two houses near Harewood End.

John Honey had sought outline permission for the scheme at Harp Field immediately north of the predominantly linear village straddling the A49 whose form the proposal would perpetuate.

For open market sale, the two houses would be “capable of helping to meet a healthy need in the locality”, the application stated, with details of their design to follow in a subsequent application.

A year ago, Herefordshire Council planning officer Elsie Morgan refused the scheme, saying it was outside the main village settlement and would result in the loss of mature trees and hedgerow.

And with a recommendation by National Highways, which manages England’s strategic road network including the A49, to delay the decision, apparently while outstanding access issues were resolved with the applicant, Ms Morgan pointed out that the council cannot conclude that the development can achieve safe access and exit to the site.

But following an appeal by Mr Honey, government-appointed planning inspector B Phillips has now overturned the council’s refusal decision.

The inspector concluded that the council no longer contests the road safety issue; that the site is suitably located in planning policy terms; and that the minor development would be set back from the highway in a similar way to neighbouring properties, and would not incongruously protrude into the surrounding countryside.

And while a substantial roadside beech tree would be lost to the development, additional trees and planting would ensure that the verdant character of the site and surroundings is maintained, they said.

The inspector also judged that the scheme “will create no significant nutrient pathways into the river Wye”, though they recommended requiring enhanced water efficiency standards in the houses, given the sensitive location.