HEREFORDSHIRE planners have rejected a scheme submitted by a farming family to build four bungalows on land opposite the old School House in Glewstone because the development would extend the village into open countryside.

The agent Tompkins Thomas Planning on behalf of the applicant, E C Drummond (Agriculture) Ltd that that development would only consist of one-and-a-half storey high housing that would match adjacent properties.

The agent explained that the proposed development would be laid out so the dwellings would be set back from the village road beyond the shared internal drive but orientated towards the carriageway with south-facing gardens and added that the four three-bedroomed detached bungalows will have a profile and be constructed of materials that reflects the village vernacular.

The land proposed for development is comprised of gently sloping arable land of minor ecological interest.

However, Marstow and Glewstone Parish Council objected to the application and supported the objections submitted by its residents who said that it would have an impact on the landscape.

The council members also had concerns regarding the position of one of the dwellings and that the development would increase the traffic movement in the area with the additional vehicles on a daily basis.

Residents were aware that Glewstone itself has been identified as a village settlement where proportionate growth is appropriate but pointed out that this proposal was outside the boundary.

Planning officer Chloe Allen-Hewitt agreed that proposal would make a modest, yet meaningful, contribution in principal towards meeting local and county-wide housing needs and would assist in boosting the supply of housing in accordance with national planning objectives.

She said: “However, the application would introduce four dwellings, garages, access roads and associated domestic activity in a manner that would extend the village into open countryside and erode the existing settlement pattern.

“The development is not considered to reflect local distinctiveness or the character of the area and would urbanise a currently undeveloped field at the entrance to the village. Whilst landscaping would provide some mitigation, it would not overcome the fundamental change in character resulting from the development.”

Ms Allen-Hewitt added: “Having regard to the proposed development plan as a whole, when considered against the national planning policies and all other material planning considerations, officers conclude that planning permission should be refused.”

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