Councillors have sided with residents against a couple’s plans to build a new home in “green space” in an historic village.
Mr and Mrs David Trigwell applied to build a five-bedroom home and two-storey garage in the garden of The Manor in Marshfield, in the Cotswolds.
But dozens of residents and the parish council objected, saying the proposed development is “out of keeping” with the historic character of the village and would lead to the loss of “important open space” in the Marshfield Conservation Area.
The garden of The Manor is classified as “undesignated open space” under South Gloucestershire Council planning policy, a committee of councillors heard last week.
This means new development is acceptable “if it does not adversely affect the quality, character, biodiversity, sustainable water management, recreation opportunities, heritage value, amenity or distinctiveness of the locality”.
Officers recommended the plans for approval, noting that an objection from Historic England had been withdrawn after the Trigwells revised their original plans.
But members of the planning committee backed residents’ objections and voted to refuse the application on February 6.
The latest plans show the house would be split into two parts separated by a glazed area and would sit about 63m from the Grade I listed St Mary’s Church and 34m from the nearest house.
Councillor Ben Stokes, who represents Boyd Valley on South Gloucestershire Council, said: “The Marshfield community have had to work really hard to keep the identity of this historic village intact.
“Once this site is opened up with another dwelling, the views and openness of that specific field space will then be broken.”
But a representative for the Trigwells told the committee : “This development accords with the policies in your adopted development plan.”
Debating the application, councillor Brian Hopkinson said: “I cannot actually see how we can turn this down.”
But other members of the planning committee said they felt the development was “out of proportion” and would have an adverse impact on the character and biodiversity of the area.
Councillor Mike Drew said: “All we can do is make our own judgement, and, certainly, from the passion of the objectors in the locality who know the area intimately, I think that that should carry significant weight.”
Members voted voted four to two to refuse the application.
The application will be referred to a spatial planning committee for a final decision because councillors voted against the officer’s recommendation.
