Appeal go-ahead for rural homes is blow for town

INSPECTOR RULES ADVERSE IMPACTS OF 100-HOME SCHEME DO NOT OUTWEIGH BENEFITS OF MORE HOUSING FOR DISTRICT

- By EDDIE BISKNELL

A GOVERNMENT inspector's decision to approve an appeal for more than 100 homes in the countryside around a Derbyshire town has been dubbed "disappointing but unsurprising".

Plans from land agent Richborough Estates for 135 houses in Kings Newton Lane, Melbourne, have been approved following an appeal and public inquiry.

The scheme had been taken straight to appeal by Richborough before South Derbyshire district councillors could make a decision last year. Richborough said the council had taken too long to make a decision.

Instead, council officers rejected the scheme so that the appeal inspector would have the authority's views on record.

More than 100 objections were filed by opposing residents, a number of whom spoke at the November inquiry in Swadlincote, along with opposition from Melbourne Parish Council, the Kings Newton Residents' Association and Derbyshire CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England).

Their concerns focused on the impact on the landscape, the separation between Melbourne and King's Newton, construction outside the settlement boundary, overdevelopment, the loss of agricultural and market garden land, the impact on infrastructure, including roads, and the shortage of supporting facilities.

Part of the site is the only known plot in the whole district which is rated Grade I agricultural land - the highest quality - which the inspector said is "scarce" nationally.

Cllr Amy Wheelton, a district councillor, spoke during the hearing to say 52 per cent of the land was grade one and 45 per cent was grade two.

The inspector said grade two was also "scarce" nationally, but "not uncommon" in the district.