Permission for three new dwellings in Green Belt

Tyler Parkes has successfully obtained planning permission on behalf of our client Kingswood Properties (West Midlands) Ltd for the proposed erection of three detached dwellings with garages and improved access off Valley Road in Earlswood.

The site is washed over by Green Belt in Stratford on Avon District Council, as well as lying in a designated Special Landscape Area. The site is close to the centre of the settlement which offers a range of services including post office/convenience store, hairdresser, pet shop, public house with restaurant and village hall. To the south-west of the site opposite Valley Road and at a higher level are Earlswood Lakes. Part of the access into the site, as well as adjacent properties, are located within the highest Flood Zone 3.

The site comprises part of the existing, extensive rear garden to an existing dwelling and the access from Valley Road to the three dwellings will run to the side of this dwelling. The three new dwellings, designed by Ritchie & Ritchie Architects LLP, will be two-storeys in height with linked single-storey garages.

A previous planning application by a different applicant in 2017 was refused on amenity and noise grounds, but it was confirmed at that time that the principle of residential development on this site was acceptable.

We ensured that the new application was supported by a detailed noise assessment and the new layout re-positioned the dwellings to address the previous grounds for refusal. However, just before we submitted the new application, the Council published its new draft Site Allocations Plan, excluding the site from the built-up area boundary of Earlswood and therefore calling into question the principle of residential development at this site. We therefore submitted strong objections to the exclusion and the officer subsequently confirmed that a detailed assessment had been undertaken which confirmed the site was actually located within the built-up area and that the principle of development on this site was acceptable.

Due to objections from the Parish Council and neighbours, the application was reported to Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s planning committee where neighbours referred to recent storms and flooding problems. Laura Pohl, Planning Consultant at Tyler Parkes, addressed the committee on behalf of the Applicant and confirmed that suitable drainage measures would be included in the development which would assist with future flooding concerns.

The Committee members agreed with the recommendation for approval and subsequently granted permission subject to appropriate conditions, including storm and foul water drainage details.