Plea to build ultra-modern flats is rejected by inspector

12:40pm Thursday 24th April 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

A DEVELOPER has lost an appeal to build an ultra-modern block of flats in Ledbury.

Plans for 13 apartments overlooking the Homend Garage have been thrown out by planning inspector, David Murray.

The scheme – called “un-ashamedly modern” by development control manager Peter Yates – was refused by Here-fordshire Council last August.

Councillors compared the development to an aluminium box and called it out of keeping with the area.

The plans were proposed on behalf of Texaco by Refined Estates Ltd, and would have been built on a private car park overlooking the garage.

A similar application was submitted four years ago, but was withdrawn following a petition from elderly residents in nearby Dawes Court.

In dismissing the appeal, Mr Murray said the building would have an “awkward visual relationship” with the street scene and Dawes Court, and criticised its appearance.

He thought the height and mass of the building would dominate the appearance of the local street scene.