Visual impact to be tested

Posted By: james

Wednesday 3rd September 2014

According to the Campaign to Protect Rural England, treasured landscapes across the country could be blighted by housing estates if a developer wins a test case on the importance of visual impact. The case centres on a plans by Gladman Developments to build 112 homes in the Slad Valley in Stroud, Gloucestershire, which was made famous in Laurie Lee's memoir Cider with Rosie. In July a planning inspector rejected the plan but Gladman is now challenging that decision in the High Court, arguing that the inspector gave undue weight to the adverse impact of the houses on views of the landscape and failed to consider whether the development accorded with planning policies "read as a whole". Gladman argues that the law requires developments to be approved unless the adverse impacts "significantly and demonstrably" outweigh the benefits. Paul Miner, senior planning officer for the CPRE, said: "Gladman's case, if it succeeded, would make it much more difficult in future to refuse a planning application on grounds of harm to landscape."

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