Housing ‘no’ Planning bid to build 500 homes and a school refused on appeal

CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save countryside on the edge of Tewkesbury from being built on are celebrating their latest victory.

An appeal inspector has backed Wychavon District Council’s decision not to allow 500 houses and a primary school on land east of Bredon Road.

Barratt Developments PLC, Mactaggart and Mickel, The North Tewkesbury Landowners Consortium, Stewart Pearman and The Croome Estate Trustees sought permission to develop the land.

It is technically in Bredon’s Hardwick but is next to the Mitton estate on the northern outskirts of Tewkesbury.

After the council threw out the plans in April, the developers went to appeal.

Now the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate has dismissed the appeal.

Its inspector, Michael Boniface, said in his decision letter that the site could take houses in principle but that the planned development might cause severe problems for roads in the area and spoil the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

He said: “I am not satisfied that the submitted transport assessment has been undertaken using a sufficiently robust approach so that I can be confident that the developments would not result in a severe residual cumulative impact on the road network, or that the tranquillity of the AONB would not be unacceptably harmed.

“I have had regard to the benefits that would arise from the development, as outlined by the appellant, which together weigh significantly in favour of the proposals.

“However, I cannot properly undertake a planning balance of harms against benefits where the likely level of harm is not robustly established.

“It is for this reason that the appeals must fail.”

Opponents of the scheme argued that it would ruin the countryside and cause flooding problems.

Tewkesbury resident Rob Daunter, whose petition against the plans was signed by more than 400 people, said: “This is great news and a battle won but the war is not over as we must now fight the 1,000 houses included in the South Worcestershire Development Plan review that is being consulted on.

“Do not think for one moment that this is over.

“We must continue the fight with renewed vigour.”

Councillor Adrian Hardman, who represents Bredon on Wychavon District Council, said: “Needless to say the residents of Bredon and myself are delighted with this decision since it reflects very much our fears over the application.

“My next job is to see that this unsuitable site is not in the next plan.”

This is great news and a battle won but the war is not over

Rob Daunter