Company to appeal after plan is refused (From Cotswold Journal)

Company to appeal after plan is refused

4:00pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in News By Freya Leng

THE developers behind plans to build 22 houses in Shipston have said they will appeal after permission for the scheme was refused by council chiefs.

Stratford District Council’s East Area Planning Committee threw out the proposals put forward by Linfoot Country Homes Ltd at its most recent meeting. Planners rejected the application over landscape issues and its hillside location, despite the officer’s recommendation to permit the application.

The plans to build on land off Hornsby Close divided the town council, which could not decide whether to support or reject the application.

But the plans attracted criticism from residents including ward members Coun Richard Cheney and Jonathon Gullis.

Speaking against the plans at the meeting, Coun Cheney said: “This application is once again premature. The Draft Core Strategy is still under consideration and the Shipston Neighbourhood Plan is not in place.

“Shipston has eight areas suggested for development in strategy, this is indeed one of them but I would say that approving this site for development is pre-determining these important planning documents.”

Keith Williams, agent for Linfoot, said the developers wanted to have more discussions with planning officers.

“I believe it’s our client’s intention to appeal against the decision,” he said.

“I suspect the appeal will be made quickly.”