November 26th, 2015

We've received a note from our friends over at SaveDumbleton.com updating us on the status of their appeal against the Bank Farm application - and it's good news!

Tewkesbury Borough Council have posted the decision of the appeal on their website: http://publicaccess.tewkesbury.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=NEZCOEQDGN000 

The decision is that the appeal has been dismissed. Furthermore, there are some rather crucial statements made by the Planning Inspector that could be used in objections to any future development proposals. Some of these are:

- I conclude on this issue that the proposal would cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the area by reason of its detrimental impact on the Dumbleton Conservation Area, the rural setting of the village, the setting of listed buildings and other buildings of historic character, and the intrinsic beauty of this part of the countryside. It would, therefore, be contrary to the objectives of national policy6, local plan policies HEN2 and LND2, and policies SD5, SD8 and SD9 of the emerging joint core strategy which collectively seek to ensure a high standard of design and that development preserves or enhances local distinctiveness, heritage assets and landscape character. 

- Whilst opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions differ between urban and rural areas, given the relatively poor public transport links and limited local facilties, I am not persuaded that the village is a sutainable location for a development of the scale proposed. Nor is there any specific evidence to indicate that allowing the proposal would lead to more local facilities being provided or improvements to public transport services.

- It may be the case that there are limited opportunities to develop in and around Dumbleton, and that other potential development sites are within the AONB and the conservation area. However, whilst clearly there is a need for a greater level of housing development in the borough, there is no particular requirement that I have been made aware of for this to be provided in Dumbleton. I do not, therefore, accept that the proposal can be justified on the basis that it is the “least worse” option for development in or around the village. 

Thank you very much for all of your support and contributions over these last few months; hopefully there will not be cause to rally the troops again in the near future, but you never know.