PLANS to build a huge caravan site in Stoke Prior have been refused after being referred to the government on appeal.
Last May, Bromsgrove District Council refused plans to build 90 static residential homes specifically for the over 55’s on Corbett Business Park.
The committee turned down planning permission due to the loss of a ‘designated employment site on previously developed land’ and said the site was ‘capable of being developed for employment purposes’.
The council also had concerns about residents’ living environment as the site is situated between a scrap yard, waste management company and several industrial units.
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However, applicant Mongoose Ltd then lodged an appeal against the decision and it was referred to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, who following a hearing held on December 20, refused planning permission for the development.
The proposed site, which lies between a railway line connecting Birmingham and Worcester and the Worcester to Birmingham canal, was previously used as a landfill site but has remained undeveloped since 1986.
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At the time of its consideration by the district council, a total of 232 objections were received against the development.
The Planning Inspectorate stated in his report: “The proposed development would not be of a good design and would fail to provide a comfortable place for all its future occupiers.
“The appeal site is not a suitable location for the proposed development with particular reference to the surrounding land uses, including the effects on the living conditions of future occupiers, and on the operations of existing businesses, with particular reference to noise and disturbance.
“The proposed design would be poorly integrated with the wider residential community in Stoke Prior and would provide poor living conditions for its occupiers.”
However, the Planning Inspectorate said ‘there is no reasonable prospect the site will come forward to be used for employment purposes.
It was concluded that the ‘adverse impacts of the proposal’ would ‘significantly outweigh’ the benefits and the appeal was dismissed.
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