Plans for house to be built on land facing historic Lowsonford pub given go-ahead

Plans have been approved for a detached house to be built on land facing an historic pub in the centre of Lowsonford.

Objectors had called for the scheme to be scrapped because of its impact both on the Grade II Listed Fleur de Lys and also on the surrounding conservation area.

But councillors at this week’s planning meeting of Warwick District Council gave it the green light after changes were made to reduce the impact of the three-bedroom home.

They were also told that permission was already in place to build on the land currently used as a parking area for the neighbouring property Old Beams.

District councilor Cllr George Illingworth (Con, Kenilworth Abbey and Arden) spoke at the meeting, urging the plans to be thrown out.

He said: “This is garden development in a conservation area in the green belt.

"The relevant policy is on conservation areas which incredibly is not even listed, never mind discussed in the officer’s report.

“The relevant explanatory paragraph in our local plan states ‘gardens and open spaces that add to the historic appearance and interest of conservation areas should be protected from development’.”

There was also opposition from Rowington Parish Council with Cllr Ian Henderson explaining: “Rowington Parish Council is concerned that this application is being considered primarily in design terms, without giving proper weight to the adverse impact on heritage assets and the conservation area.

"This is a perfectly adequate design but not in a conservation area adjacent to a Grade II Listed building.

“This is changing forever the character of this part of the village which has existed for hundreds of years.”

The applicant, Peter Jinks, said his architects had been working with planners to achieve a design that they felt was right for the village and district council planner Gary Fisher said that the conservation officer had removed his complaints and that the key issue for councillors was to consider whether the revised proposal was acceptable in visual terms within the wider village and conservation area and whether the spacious character was sufficiently maintained.

Cllr Terry Morris (Con, Warwick Saltisford) said: “Planning permission for a property has already been granted so a lot of the arguments we have heard this evening don’t stand.

“My concern last time was because the conservation officer at that point said he was objecting.

"We’ve now had clarification that the conservation officer has moved his objections therefore I will remove my objection.

“I can’t see ways we can do anything other than accept the officer's recommendation as laid out and I propose we do just that.”