Objections to 'unique and exceptional' house plan for hamlet near Newport are overruled
Residents of a hamlet near Newport turned out in force to object to plans for an 8m-tall self-build property in their midst.
Councillors were told that the fact that the proposed self-build house in Sambrook would stand out in the landscape was one of the things which made it exceptional and justified building it in a rural area.
Resident Michael Rowley said it would be a “black box the size of six houses” and look like a “retail store”. He objected to it being described as taking its inspiration from a water mill.
“This is more about the ow factor than the wow factor,” he told Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning committee on Wednesday (February 5).
Mr Rowley appealed for committee members to “pull back from the academic paperwork and come into the real world".
Borough councillor Stephen Burrell said it would be a "blot on the landscape" in a "very, very, rural part of the borough".
He had asked for the committee to consider the plan and appealed to his colleagues to go on a site visit to see the area before deciding.
Jack Harris, planning agent for the scheme, put forward by Newport resident Chris Horton, said objectors had put forward ‘inaccuracies’ which he sought to correct.
“We have met the requirements of exceptional design,” he said. “It will not be a care home.”
The designs have also been approved by independent experts at Design:Midlands.
“It will be a unique and exceptional dwelling,” he added.
The committee was told that the 8m height of the building was one of the things that made it exceptional.
A planning officer told the committee that to “meet the test” of being exceptional it “does have to gave a prominent form in the landscape, almost showing off the building".
But Councillor Nigel Dugmore disagreed.
“It does not float my boat,” he said. “I can’t see anything particularly innovative on this design.”
Councillors approved the plans by seven votes to one with no abstentions, leaving objectors filing out of the committee room maintaining their objections.
