A PLAN to build new work units in a village rejected over highway safety fears will now be allowed to go ahead after an inspector overruled the council.
Wychavon District Council rejected a proposal to build an extra unit and accommodation in Holt Fleet near Worcester last year over concerns about cars using a difficult junction off the village’s busy and speedy A4133 as an entrance.
An appeal over the ruling was then made to the government’s planning inspectorate who said the application should be allowed to go ahead.
In a report outlining the decision, planning inspector Bhupinder Thandi said: “Based on my observations and in the absence of any convincing evidence to the contrary I conclude that the proposed development would not result in harm to highway safety.
Permission was given to build two new units on the land off the narrow Holt Fleet Lane in 2018 with the two two-storey buildings totalling around 672 square metres in space but that plan would be scrapped in favour of three smaller units totalling around 618 square metres.
The extra unit would contain three bedrooms as well as living and dining space and bathroom alongside large open plan office space.
Objecting to the plan, highways officers at Worcestershire County Council said there was no evidence in the application to show that the junction was “safe” as it had been suggested.
“Almost all traffic entering and leaving the site would be expected to use the nearby junction with the A4133, which is a busy main route subject here to a 40 miles per hour speed limit,” the objection said.
“The junction is sharply angled and sloping, making some turning movements difficult, and visibility for drivers is sharply limited.
“The public highway junction with the A4133 is outside the control of the applicant and no improvements can be secured through this application.”
Ombersley and Dovedale Parish Council said it was “deeply concerned” about traffic on the “notoriously difficult” access road off Holt Fleet Road.
“[The council] remains concerned that cars will not have room to turn and exit the parking easily and will be tempted to reverse out which would be extremely hazardous,” an objection from the parish council said.
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