Builder wins garden fight

A unique garden built in the 1920s in Church Stretton is to be bulldozed after developers won their battle to build luxury homes.

A unique garden built in the 1920s in Church Stretton is to be bulldozed after developers won their battle to build luxury homes.Planning inspector Jonathan Roberts has upheld an appeal by Shrewsbury-based Bennett Homes against South Shropshire District Council's decision to refuse consent for the building of four homes in the gardens of Overdale.

A one-day public inquiry was held at the end of last year when residents opposed the demolition of the Italian-style gardens, which are unique to the county.

The gardens were landscaped by the property's former owners during the late 1920s and include a swimming pool, dingle, mature shrubs and a woodland.

However, they have fallen into disrepair and developers sought consent to build luxury new homes on the site. They would restore the dingle as part of their plans.

Today Graham Bennett, boss of Bennett Homes, said he was delighted with the decision.

Mr Bennett said: "We were e-mailed the decision and we are delighted. Our plans are sympathetic to the area. The dingle will be restored and will become a major feature of the new houses.

"The new homes will be in keeping with Church Stretton. They will not destroy the character of the area. The inspector obviously has no problems with what we are planning to do and we hope to start work soon."

Today Councillor Nigel Hartin, south Shropshire's planning committee chairman, said: "All I can say is that the applicant took it to appeal and was successful. It is unfortunate, I was hoping it would not be successful. But that is the decision and we have to accept it."

Councillor Hartin said he was concerned about the destruction of the gardens, the impact on the landscape and the precedent of back yard development in Church Stretton.

Overdale's current owner, Keith Ashworth, has already spent considerable sums restoring the garden but says it would cost several hundreds of thousands of pounds to restore it to its former glory.

The campaign to save the gardens of Overdale was led by members of its former owners, the Wood family. Patrick Wood, who still lives in Church Stretton, said the scheme would devastate the gardens he loved as a boy.

By Andy Richardson