Developer bids to overturn homes refusal (From Gazette Series)

Developer bids to overturn Cam homes refusal

8:30am Wednesday 29th February 2012 in News By Liza-Jane Gillespie

BATTLE lines have been drawn over proposals to build over 70 houses on land in Cam.

Planning bosses at Stroud District Council have been defending the authority’s decision to refuse permission to Hallam Land Management to build the 71 homes off Box Road.

Officers at the council refused the planning application, through delegated powers, last November on the grounds that it was outside the Cam settlement and was not a sustainable development.

However, Hallam Land Management took the decision to appeal and independent inspector John Roberts opened a two-day public inquiry last Wednesday, February 22.

Mr Roberts told the inquiry, held in Stroud, that he would hear evidence on the effect the proposals would have on the character and appearance of the countryside at Cam, and consider the council’s housing strategy.

Morag Thomsom, speaking on behalf of Hallam Land Management, said more housing was important to Cam and Dursley because of a shortage of affordable housing and land earmarked for housing.

She said there had been delays in existing housing projects – such as Littlecombe - due to the economic downturn.

She said: "Whatever the reason the solution relies on bringing forward sites."

Ms Thomsom said the Box Road site had no special protection or designation and would provide 40 per cent affordable housing.

Defending Stroud District Council’s decision, Rowena Meager told the inquiry that just because the council’s former local plan ended in June 2011 did not mean policy within it no longer applied.

She said the council was in the process of creating its new planning document, the Core Strategy, which sought to balance more housing with creating jobs in the district. She said what Hallam Land were proposing offered nothing to the local area.

She said: "The proposed development is just a housing development."

Ms Meager added that any shortfall of housing land in the Cam and Dursley area did not automatically mean the application should have been approved.

She said: "The shortfall doesn’t provide any justification for the appeal in succeeding."

Due to the illness of a key witness being called by Stroud District Council, the inquiry also met for an additional third day on Monday to take evidence and hear closing statements.

A decision on the appeal is expected in April.