A plan for up to ten new self-built homes on the site of a Herefordshire plant nursery has been withdrawn after drawing numerous objections locally.

The area of just under a hectare at Long Lane Farm, Peterchurch in the Golden Valley has been disused for over five years, though is still home to storage sheds and horticultural polytunnels.

Local builder Gary Howe had sought outline permission to build up to ten detached and semi-detached houses with several sustainability features alongside a proposed mixed-fruit orchard.

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Peterchurch parish council objected that the spot lay outside the village’s agreed boundary, while local drainage “is already under pressure and in an area that already experiences flooding”, and only a “steep, narrow” lane links the site to the village.

“Existing development already significantly exceeds the number of houses allocated to the parish by nearly double, and further three- or four-bedroomed properties are simply not needed,” its submission said.

Fourteen members of the public also lodged objections, largely mirroring those of the parish council.

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Neighbours William Jope and Anna Bromley added: “The area around Long Lane is home to barn owls. tawny owls, stoats, hedgehogs, hares and bats This proposed development will have a detrimental effect on all these animals.”

But another neighbour, Kate Atterby, said she “could see no detriment to the village” from the proposal, which “seems well-considered”.

Herefordshire Council confirmed on February 8 that the application had been withdrawn.