Council refuses heritage area disabled driveway

The council says the plans would be harmful to the surrounding conservation area and world heritage site

A man's application to create a new parking area for his disabled wife has been turned down as a result of strict local planning rules.

John Flattery had applied for a 2.5m (8ft) driveway for a cottage in Coalbrookdale in Shropshire's Ironbridge Gorge.

Strict planning rules prevent developments of all kinds, and while the council said the improved access would be "beneficial" this was outweighed by the harm the authority deemed it would cause to the world heritage site and conservation area.

Mr Flattery was told he was entitled to appeal the decision with the Planning Inspectorate.

Planning agent Kevin Twigger, of Staffordshire-based KRT Associates Ltd, told planners at Telford & Wrekin Council the proposed changes were necessary to assist the applicant's wife to access the home safely.

Planners determined the proposals – for a grasscrete, permeable driveway with paved pedestrian path either side - would cause harm to the outstanding universal value of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and Severn Gorge Conservation Area.

The agent had said the materials were "in keeping with the visual appearance of the surrounding cottages."

The application said there was no opportunity for safe accessible on-street car parking for disabled people on the lane the property was situated on.

Council planners said the proposal would mean the "partial loss of green amenity space and the subdivision of the historic frontage."

They felt this would disrupt the character of the row of terrace cottages, and "would be harmful to the character and setting of the building of local interest".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.