Gypsy site plans for Alveley green belt thrown out by planners

In March, Mr Luke Buckland applied for permission to change the use of land off Batfield Lane, Alveley to use as a residential caravan site for one gypsy family with two caravans, together with hardstanding, erection of a dayroom building and improvement of existing access.

However, the plans were rejected by a Shropshire Council planning officer last week.

In a decision published on August 14, the planning officer said that while there was “a demonstrable unmet need for gypsy and traveller accommodation” he added that “the adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits”.

“The proposed site is in an unsustainable location outside of any area designated for housing and remote from services and facilities with no sustainable travel options within the green belt open countryside,” the planning officer said.

“The proposed development is therefore inappropriate in the green belt and very special circumstances to outweigh harm have not been identified where despite the current lack of supply, there is significant harm arising from detrimental impact on landscape character and openness, and a lack of information either to rule out harm arising from lack of safe access, scale of development, and impact on mature trees or to offer additional support to the proposed development on the basis of exceptional need.”