Plans for 24 homes near Shrewsbury are dismissed again

Messrs Davies of Dorrington had applied to Shropshire Council in 2014 for outline planning permission to build the two, three and four-bedroom homes on land near Station Road in the village.

But the council refused to give the scheme the green light citing that the development would be on open countryside and the matter went before a planning inspector in late Autumn 2014.

He backed the council's stance and said that outline permission should not be granted.

However the developers resubmitted the plans and once again the council refused to grant permission so the developers took the matter to the Planning Inspectorate.

This week the the government inspector ruled that the council's decision had been appropriate and said that the development would 'significantly harm' the village's intrinsic character.

In his report, which was made public this week, Alexander Walker, the government's planning inspector, said: "The council accept that a large number of dwellings required in the rural areas must be provided through windfall sites. The appeal site is located outside the development boundary of Dorrington and therefore lies within the open countryside. I have been referred to a number of appeal decisions by the appellants whereby housing development in the open countryside has been allowed.

"In the terms of the environmental role there is no evidence that the development would have any significant harm on protected species and appropriate landscaping could provide an enhancement of the existing ecology of the site.

"Not withstanding this, the site is a verdant field located in the open countryside. It forms part of a large open field that lies between the village and the railway line. Overall, the field makes a positive contribution to the openness and rural character of the area. The development of the site would result in an encroachment in to the open countryside which would significantly harm its intrinsic character and value.

"Due to the land rising from the east to west, the site is particularly prominent on approach to the village from the east along Station Road, thereby exacerbating this harmful effect.

"Although the application is in outline, the dwellings would result in an extension of the settlement in to the open countryside that would fail to protect or enhance the natural environment.

"Whilst the design and layout of the development may well accord with the neighbouring built form this would not outweigh the significant harm the development of the site would cause to the rural character and appearance of the area.

"I find therefore that the proposal would not represent sustainable development."

He dismissed the appeal.