A bid to build a bungalow on a popular patch of green space in Bideford has been thrown out after residents successfully fought plans they feared would erode one of the area’s few remaining open spaces.
Planning inspectors rejected an appeal against Torridge District Council’s refusal of the scheme at High Park Close, concluding the land provides an important community green area despite being privately owned.
The decision has been welcomed by councillors and residents who objected to the proposal, with planning officials saying local feedback played a significant role in the outcome.
Speaking at a meeting of Torridge District Council’s planning committee on Thursday, June 4, Cllr David Brenton praised residents for working together to oppose the development.
He said: “A very good outcome on this and I think the residents of the area showed as a team they work well together and the officers of Torridge are really good at getting all the correct ducks in the row, if you want to put it that way.
“I think this is going to send a message.”
The appeal was lodged after the council refused plans for a single bungalow, parking spaces and associated works on land between High Park Close and Clovelly Road.
Although the developer argued the site could provide a much-needed home, the planning inspector concluded the plot forms part of an open space valued by local people and regularly used by residents, including dog walkers.
In the decision, the inspector said northern Devon already suffers from a shortage of public open space and found the loss of the land would outweigh the benefits of building one additional home.
The ruling is particularly significant because the land does not have any formal protection and remains in private ownership.
Planning manager Helen Smith said the decision showed existing planning policies were strong enough to safeguard valued community spaces.
She said: “The inspector acknowledged that this is privately owned. So the space is privately owned and it lacks a formal designation, but that current policy in the local plan was strong enough to mean that it is identified as a public open space and should be retained for that purpose.”
Helen also highlighted the impact local residents had on the outcome.
She said: “I think a really important point with this as well was the level of contribution and objection from the local community and the inspector put great weight to that.
“The inspector very much recognised the value that the public give to that use of it as a provision for the local community.”
The inspector found the proposed bungalow would not have harmed the appearance of the area and said drainage issues could have been resolved through planning conditions.
However, the loss of the green space was judged to be the decisive issue and the appeal was dismissed.
Cllr Rosemary Lock said the outcome should encourage more people to take part in the planning process.
She said: “It’s a good outcome and I think it’s important as well to send the message out because most people think it’s a waste of time putting in any comment because no one takes any notice.
“But in this case, as you say, the public really helped.”
