A DECISION to turn down planning permission for new homes in a village near Leominster has been upheld on appeal.

A planning inspector has dismissed an appeal against Herefordshire Council’s refusal to award Hereford Oak Buildings Ltd permission to build six new homes with four garages on land in Shirlheath, near Kingland.

Planners had rejected the plan in March last year, saying that it was an unsustainable development within the open countryside with poor pedestrian access to local facilities and services.

They also said the landscape would be adversely affected.

And a planning inspector who visited the site earlier this month has upheld the decision.

In a report issued on January 18 and publicly available on Herefordshire Council's website, the inspector said: "Whilst I find that the development would be socially sustainable in terms of its location this would be outweighed by the harm to the character and appearance of the area and it would not be environmentally sustainable.

"Therefore, overall, the development would not represent sustainable development and the appeal is dismissed."