Stedefield Church Lane Flyford Flavell Worcester WR7 4BZ

1. 1.The proposed development would introduce a detached self-build dwelling, garage and associated residential curtilage on land outside the defined development boundary of Flyford Flavell, within the open countryside. The previous Permission in Principle has lapsed and does not provide an extant fallback position, and the Council can now demonstrate a five-year housing land supply such that the tilted balance under paragraph 11(d) of the National Planning Policy Framework is not engaged. The proposal would conflict with the spatial strategy for South Worcestershire, which seeks to direct new housing development to appropriate locations in accordance with the settlement hierarchy and strictly control development in the open countryside. The development would therefore be contrary to Policy SWDPR03 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and the relevant aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. 2.The proposed dwelling, by reason of its scale, form, massing, flat roof profile, extensive glazing, projecting balcony and highly contemporary elevational treatment, would fail to respond positively to the established rural and traditional character of the surrounding area. The proposal would appear as an incongruous and visually dominant addition within this sensitive edge-of-village, backland setting and would fail to reinforce local distinctiveness or integrate effectively with its surroundings. The development would therefore be contrary to Policies SWDPR05 and SWDPR28 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and the relevant aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework, in particular paragraph 139.
3. 3.The proposed development, by reason of its siting within the historic curtilage of the Grade II listed building Stedefield, together with its scale, form, contemporary design, associated access, driveway, boundary treatments and domestic paraphernalia, would erode the spacious semi-rural setting of the listed building and diminish the ability to appreciate its significance within its historic context. The proposal would also cause harm, to a lesser extent, to the setting of Tudor Cottage. The development would result in a high degree of less than substantial harm to the significance of designated heritage assets, which would not be outweighed by the limited public benefits of the proposal. The development would therefore fail to preserve the setting of designated heritage assets, contrary to Section 66(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Policies SWDPR09 and SWDPR33 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and the relevant aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.
4. 4.The proposed development, by reason of its siting beyond the defined development boundary on the south-western edge of Flyford Flavell, together with the introduction of a substantial detached dwelling, garage, access drive, parking areas, domestic curtilage and associated residential paraphernalia, would result in the encroachment, domestication and urbanisation of land which contributes to the rural edge of the settlement and its transition towards the wider open countryside beyond. The proposal would fail to respect the loose pattern, vegetated and pastoral character of this part of the village and would not conserve or enhance the character of the Village Claylands landscape. In the absence of a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment or detailed visual appraisal, the proposal has also failed to adequately demonstrate that it would avoid unacceptable harm to landscape character and visual amenity, including views experienced from nearby Public Rights of Way. The development would therefore be contrary to Policies SWDPR03, SWDPR28 and SWDPR34 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review and the relevant aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework.
5. 5.In the absence of a completed Section 106 Agreement or Unilateral Undertaking to secure the required affordable housing contribution, the proposal would fail to make appropriate provision towards local affordable housing in a Designated Rural Area. The development would therefore be contrary to Policy SWDPR19 of the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

WR7 4BZ

Application type

Full planning permission

Scale / size

Small

Parish

Flyford Flavell

Date validated

9 February 2026

Consultation expiry

12 March 2026

Consultation start

9 February 2026

Consultation end

12 March 2026

Agent address

Scandia Hus Business Park Felcourt Road East Grinstead West Sussex RH19 2PL

Advertisement expiry

12 March 2026

Documents

30