PLANS to build up to six homes close to a village school and a historic manor house have been knocked back.

Clive Grindon of Hereford applied in June to develop an acre-and-a-half field enclosed by hedges and trees between Lea Primary School and the A40.

He sought ‘permission in principle’, a less-used, light touch way of gaining outline planning permission for housing schemes.

The proposed development is located just outside the village’s settlement boundary but would be opposite the recently built Lea End development of 15 houses, and was to share the existing road with the school.

The plot of land is ‘extremely well screened’ from the large Grade II* Castle End house nearby, the application argued.

But government agency Historic England said the proposal would ‘harm to the significance of Castle End’, which dates from the 17th century and which the development site contributes to as “a buffer between the house and the expanding village”.

Its owner Captain Martin Lowe submitted his own substantial objections, arguing the work and achievement of restoring the historic property should be recognised in protecting its very special situation.

“Applications to develop housing here have been turned down several times previously and for very sound reasons,” he added.

And he considered this latest bid an “obvious attempt to ‘get the camel’s nose in the tent’ for a larger number of houses at a future date once the applicant has received outline assent”.

Another near neighbour, John Hyndman, objected that Lea has had over 120 new dwellings in the last five years with no additional infrastructure to support the current population.

And parent Anita Tyson said she was deeply concerned about the impact on pupils’ safety and pointed out that the access road, which would be shared under the proposed scheme, is already under significant pressure.

Planning officer Eleanor Barry concluded that the proposed site contributes to the dispersed and rural character of this part of Lea, and to develop it would result in a significant impact upon the character and setting of the nearby listed building.

Another housing developer is waiting to see if Herefordshire planners would grant it permission that in principle three new bungalows could be built on land at Castle End in the Lea, which is diagonally opposite the primary school.

However, it is the third time Churcham Homes Ltd have submitted an application to build on the same plot of land.

In September 2022, following an appeal, the planning inspector refused 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.

Local resident Brian Jones objected to this scheme, stating that as the site lies outside the settlement boundary it needs to be treated as land within the open countryside and added: “I argue that the proposed development is contrary to both local and national planning policy and the River Wye’s Special Area of Conservation.”

Herefordshire planners are expected to make its decision by August 15.