Thatched Cottage 82 The Ridgeway New End Astwood Bank B96 6LX

1. 1.In this case the proposal is to replace a single dwelling with four dwellings, with an increase in residential floorspace from a single existing 3 bed market dwelling to 4No. 4-bed market dwellings. The existing dwelling floorspace is 116m2. Each of the four proposed dwellings are approx. 170m2 and comprise a total of 680m2 residential floorspace. With garaging, the proposed amount of development would be 194m2 x 4 which is a new total floorspace of 776m2 and this would represent inappropriate development within the greenbelt. Furthermore the scheme, by virtue of its size and design, would introduce a form, scale and mass of development that would be alien to the character of the village, and harm the openness of the Green Belt by virtue of the overdevelopment in the quantum of dwellings, proposed floorspace and visual massing within the site contrary to policies GB6 and GB7 of The Framework.
2. 2.The application site would form part of a linear pattern of development along The Ridgeway, positioned between two residential plots characterised by large properties set within substantial plots. However the wider dispersed pattern of development is not reflected within this proposal as the scale and massing within the site would not be characteristic of the single dwelling within a large plot typology that dominates the character of the area. The ratio of open space to building form would be at odds within its setting representing an incongruous addition. Moreover; the overdevelopment of the site with 4 proposed dwellings of significant scale over and above the existing single dwelling does not accord with the character of the village and does not allow for the buildings to be aligned north- south to enable the maximised opportunities for PV and passive solar gain to be harnessed. This proposed development cumulatively is considered overbearing within the plot and does not respond positively to the surrounding buildings or countryside and the distinctive features or qualities that contribute to the visual interest or streets and landscape of the locality. Consequently the proposals do not safeguard the distinct identity and character of the rural village and the proposal is contrary to policies SWDPR28 and SWPDR 34 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) policy DP3 of the Framework and the Wychavon Design Code.
3. 3.A section 106 legal agreement / legal undertaking has not been completed to secure the provision of the required affordable housing and the necessary financial contribution towards affordable housing provision off site. As such, the proposal fails to make adequate provision for affordable housing and is contrary to Policy SWDPR19 of the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan Review, the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document and the aims and objectives of the Framework.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

B96 6LX

Application type

Full planning permission

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Cookhill

Date validated

30 October 2025

Consultation expiry

23 December 2025

Consultation start

30 October 2025

Consultation end

23 December 2025

Agent address

28 The Meadway Redditch B97 5AD

Advertisement expiry

27 November 2025

Documents

30