Unanimous vote to reject plan to build house in countryside

» PLANS to build a detached house in the Cotswolds countryside have been turned down.

John Rettie wanted permission to build on land next to The Malt House in Perrotts Brook, Bagendon, near Cirencester.

The proposals were debated by Cotswold District Council’s planning and licensing committee last week.

Previous plans to build a property on the site were rejected in 2018 and an appeal was dismissed in 2019. Council officers recommended rejecting the new scheme.

Six people objected to the proposals, citing concerns it was outside the settlement boundary and would harm the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. They also raised concerns the area suffered from poor drainage and the access would be onto a small country lane with poor visibility.

The proposals were brought before the committee because Mr Rettie is a close relative of a councillor.

Cllr Juliet Layton (LD, South Cerney Village) said there were strong reasons for refusal and proposed rejecting the scheme. This was seconded by Cllr Julia Judd (C, Ermin), and councillors voted unanimously to turn down the proposals.