COUNTY planners have rejected a scheme to extend a home in Bromyard and build two detached houses within its garden.

Paul Brooks wanted to redevelop Tower Lodge in Linton Lane, but council officers recommended rejecting the proposals.

The site lies within the River Lugg catchment which is currently failing to meet environmental standards due to phosphate pollution.

The Lugg catchment forms part of the River Wye Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

And officers said they needed to be certain that the plans will not have any adverse effect on the integrity of the SAC.

They believe the plans would add to the generation of phosphates and there was not enough information to provide scientific and legal certainty that the development would not have an adverse effect.

Ward councillor Nigel Shaw called on the planning and regulatory committee to reject the scheme.

But he also said there were concerns from residents which provided further reasons to refuse permission.

He said the width of Linton Lane and the footway did not conform to the Herefordshire design standard for development.

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“There could be a refusal that because typical construction traffic is unsuitable for Linton Lane on the grounds of,” he said.

Councillor Sebastian Bowen agreed with this view and proposed rejecting the scheme.

“The access is absolutely appalling,” he said.

“It’s a lovely little lane. Fine if you are a Medieval peasant dragging your little cart behind you but not more than that,” he said.

“I thought the chairman’s posh new vehicle might get stuck in it. It only just scraped through.

“If you had a person standing in that lane, trying not to be run down, it would be almost impossible to avoid them.”

He also criticised the ‘crammed design’ of the proposal and the impact it would have on neighbours.

“The houses are within spitting distance of each other.

“It’s another example of gardens of townhouses being turned into building sites.”

His proposal was seconded by councillor Alan Seldon.

And the committee unanimously rejected the planning application.