Ludlow 'hobbit house' bid delay criticised
Designers behind an innovative "hobbit house" they hope to build into a steep bank in a Shropshire town, have denied the scheme would look out of place – and say they are frustrated with the time taken to process the plans.
The cutting-edge "earth-sheltered" eco-home, planned for what is currently an overgrown slope at the Linney, near the River Teme in Ludlow, has yet to go before Shropshire Council's south planning committee.
In July, Historic England issued a letter saying it would object to the plan as it would not "fit with the established character of the area" – but applicant RRA's design director Garry Thomas said key information about how the house would help enhance the surroundings, and have a low impact on views around the area, had at that time not been passed on by Shropshire Council.
Mal Price, Shropshire Council's cabinet member responsible for planning, said that information had now been forwarded.
Mr Thomas, whose work has appeared on Channel 4's Grand Designs and is set to do so again as he films with the show in Herefordshire, said the plans had been with council planners for seven months now, but still had not been fully assessed.
He said: "The proposal represents stunning yet understated sustainable design, which befits a town like Ludlow – and given the proposed enhancement of the setting of wonderful local heritage, the design could be approved tomorrow under current policies set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.
"Goodness knows why it is taking so long to approve excellent architectural design."
He said it had so far taken five months more than the two-month turn-around it was supposed to take to process such applications.
Material to address Historic England's concerns had been submitted mid-July.
Councillor Price said: "
All the correspondence submitted by Mr Thomas will be taken into account before the planning officer makes a recommendation in relation to this application."
