Anger over village homes U-turn (From Cotswold Journal)

Anger over village homes U-turn

11:00am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News

HONEYBOURNE residents are “dismayed” after plans to build 44 houses in the village were given the go-ahead on appeal.

Despite proposals being refused by Wychavon’s planning committee in March, a planning inspector allowed the appeal by Sharba Homes to develop the site, off Station Road – a field historically used for a sheep auction.

Inspector Elizabeth Hill said despite the site being cited as “the least acceptable to the council and local residents” at the inquiry, “Honeybourne is a highly sustainable location”.

Brian Johnson, parish council chairman, said he was amazed and appalled by the decision after fighting hard against the plans.

“We honestly thought that this one would be thrown out,” he said. “We’re in a state of shock. It’s completely overridden the residents’ views. Local people have no rights. That site was a critical piece of green for the village.”

Station Road resident Carole Graves said: “I am truly broken with the news as not only will we have this housing estate opposite us there are also two others that have been given the go-ahead in Honeybourne, making just under 200 homes.

“I have such anger towards the injustice regarding this and generally the state of this country and the poorly thought through Government planning policies, leaving huge loopholes for land grab developers to exploit to the detriment of local communities.

“Where is the democracy that we are supposed to have in this country?”

MP Peter Luff has described the Government’s housing policy as “bizarre”

and that developers will win permission for housing estates in the wrong locations if it does not stick to its pledge of killing off old housing targets.

In May, another planning inspector allowed an appeal by Hanninck Homes & Development, for 45 homes on Allesborough Hill, Pershore, after the application was refused by Wychavon’s planning committee.