A PLANNING application for two ‘aspirational dwellings’ on land which contains an ancient well has been rejected by Stroud District Council.

The application for a pair of large houses to be built in Holywell, in Wotton under Edge was turned down by planning officers on Monday, February 4.

Paul Thomas, who lives in the hamlet, said: “Everybody’s really pleased.”

The development, planned by Tan Homes Limited, had been heavily opposed by residents, who thought the homes would not address local housing needs, while destroying the green space at the centre of Holywell, which is integral to the character of the hamlet.

Archaeologists backed the campaigners, believing the well and surrounding land to be of historic interest.

TV archaeologist Mark Horton, who lives in Wotton, described the application as ‘outrageous’.

Wotton Town Council were also unimpressed with the proposal.

In a formal objection, councillors noted that the site was inappropriate for such a scheme as it "is outside of the settlement boundary of permitted development in Wotton", and it is in the Cotswold’s AONB.

They also questioned the definition of a brownfield site used in the application and raised concerns about flooding on the land.

In refusing permission, SDC's planners agreed that the site was ‘located outside of defined settlement development limits’.

And they noted: “The proposed dwellings by virtue of their siting and scale would have a very large and negative impact on the character and appearance of the hamlet, its open nature and the rural setting of the listed buildings and protected landscape.

“The dwellings would appear as incongruous, visually dominant and jarring additions that would be at odds with the tranquil and open rural setting of the hamlet, the listed buildings" and the AONB.

“This would fundamentally erode the historic character of the place thereby causing it harm.”