Cottage in village to be demolished in orchard grounds

A COTTAGE in a village near Ashbourne is set to be demolished and the grounds of an orchard redeveloped.

Members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee have given approval for the demolition of Ivy Cottage and the erection of 11 dwellings with construction of new road access at Tythe Barn, Alton for Vital Construction Ltd.

In a report to councillors, the council’s head of development services,

Ben Haywood, said: “The development would involve the demolition of the existing stone cottage ‘Ivy Cottage’ to allow the formation of a new vehicular access from Tythe Barn (B5032).

“A mix of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom dwellings are to be formed as terraces, semidetached and detached properties of a two-storey scale. The scheme proposes a terrace of three cottages to the main road frontage with vehicular site access positioned to the far east of these dwellings adjacent to Rowan House.

“The remaining layout would take the form of a cul-de-sac with three outward facing dwellings culminating in a courtyard accommodating a turning head.

“Each dwelling would be provided with a rear garden and parking provision. These would be either in-plot with garaging or within the two parking courts. The site equates to approximately 0.41 hectares and is broadly rectangular in shape but narrows in width towards the Tythe Barn (B5032) road frontage. Ivy Cottage itself stands within the northern most part of the site, with its principal elevation facing south and therefore away from the main road frontage.

“The cottage has previously been extended with a flat roof addition to the eastern side of the building. To the west, there is a narrow access drive leading to a farm and is separated from the application site by a dry stone wall.

“Ivy Cottage and its immediate domestic curtilage are located within the

Alton Village Development Boundary within this edge of settlement location.

“Residential development surrounds the site to the north, east and west of Ivy Cottage. The cottage itself represents the brownfield element of the site. The larger, remaining part of the site (including orchard) falls within the open countryside and therefore represents the greenfield element of the site.”

Cllr Stephen Ellis said: “I am pleased to see the scheme come forward.”

Cllr Ben Emery said: “There are just one or two things I have concerns for.” Cllr Keith Flunder raised concerns that the proposed houses were too near the road.

Councillors voted 13 to one in favour of the application.