Five rural dwellings at Land Adjacent The Linhay, Ashford, Barnstaple

The site

The 0.4-hectare site was an open agricultural field on Ashford’s northern edge, beside Grattan Lane and near the conservation area.

“Site Description The 0.4 ha application site lies on the northern side of the village of Ashford. Ashford is located to the north of the A361 and is around 3 miles from the centre of Barnstaple. It is located in a rural setting on a south facing slope with open views over the Taw Estuary to the south. The village itself has a Village Hall and Church.”

“The site itself sits to the south of and is accessed from Grattan Lane, which runs east–west between Ashford and neighbouring Heanton Punchardon. The site forms part of an open agricultural field to the north edge of the village with the property known as The Linhay to the west and Allwinds to the east. The main built-up area of Ashford lies to the south of the site beyond the southern edge of the field and forms part of the Ashford Conservation Area.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier applications in Ashford concerned alterations, an extension and conservation-area works to existing dwellings, and were approved.

“Reference Number Proposal Decision Decision Date 21610 PROPOSED ALTERATIONS & EXTENSION TO DWELLING at 16 HORRIDGE COTTAGES, ASHFIELD LANE, , ASHFORD, BARNSTAPLE, DEVON, EX31 4BY FULL PLANNING APPROVAL 27 February 1996 21611 CONSERVATION AREA APPLICATION PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF A NON LISTED EXTENSION IN A CONSERVATION AREA IN CONNECTION WITH EXTENSION TO DWELLING at 16 HORRIDGE COTTAGES, ASHFIELD LANE, , ASHFORD, BARNSTAPLE, DEVON, EX31 4BY FULL PLANNING APPROVAL 27 February…”

“Reference Number Proposal Decision Decision Date 58662 EXTENSION TO DWELLING at SILVER STONES, ASH LANE, , ASHFORD, BARNSTAPLE, DEVON, EX31 4BY FULL PLANNING APPROVAL 10 March 2015”

Officer report

Why refusal was advised

Officers considered the site poorly related to the settlement, harmful to rural character and heritage, and speculative without a locally identified housing need.

“Due to the conflicts identified with Policy DM24, policy ST07(3) is not considered to apply to this particular site. It should therefore be considered as being in the Countryside where ST07(4) will apply. Notwithstanding the above, Ashford’s position in the settlement hierarchy, with limited services and a strong rural character, limits its sustainability as a location for development and lesser weight is attributed to the tilted balance accordingly.”

Officer report

What residents said

Eleven objections cited traffic, alternative available homes, lack of local occupancy, agricultural land loss, visual impact, ecology, drainage and skyline effects.

“Traffic / highways impacts. • There are plenty of alternative homes for sale in Ashford. • Homes are not for local occupancy • Precedent for further development in this location • Loss of agricultural land. • Highly visible site with harmful visual impacts. • The translocation of hedgebanks will harm the appearance of the site and ecology • Ecology impacts / protected species. • Drainage • Skyline development, when viewed from opposite banks of the estuary.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Statements were read from three objectors, the agent addressed the committee, and Councillor R. Knight spoke as ward member.

The vote

The committee refused the application by six votes to none, with one abstention, following the planning officer’s recommendation.

“RESOLVED (6 for, 0 against, 1 abstained) that the application be REFUSED as recommended by the Planning Officer (DJ).”

Minutes