Residents hope appeal refusal will save other Stamford sites from development
Residents who campaigned to protect a plot of land on their Stamford housing estate hope their success will save other similar sites across town.
The Planning Inspectorate has backed a decision by South Kesteven District Council to refuse plans for a two-bed house on Haddon Road.
Victoria Bayley of Werrington in Peterborough, appealed against SKDC’s refusal, claiming the site ‘had little amenity value’.
In its decision, the Planning Inspectorate said: “The proposal would not result in a significant loss of amenity space within the housing estate.”
“It would not harm the living conditions of the occupants of neighbouring properties and appropriate parking arrangements could be provided.”
However, the decision notice said one extra house would be of little benefit, which “does not outweigh the significant harm to the character and appearance of the area”.
The site was one of many others similar plots sold off by Jelson Homes in 2014, leading to fears they would be built on.
Haddon Road resident and campaigner John Parrish said: “If they had won, it would have set a precedent for other green spaces. That would have been a disaster.”
Kevin Edwards of the Stamford Open Spaces campaign said: “Everyone is very happy. It’s a great precedent for the other places.Hopefully, the decision will hold for the sites bought by the same buyer.”
Stamford town councillor David Taylor, who is helping develop a Neighbourhood Plan for Stamford, said the plan if ratified would protect this and 30 other sites from development.
Town council planning committee chairman Coun Steve Carroll said: “All these open spaces should be kept as amenities for the town.”
