Peninsula farmer Oliver Paul has lost an appeal against Babergh that refused to allow permission to build a new house on the outskirts of Wherstead.

Mr Paul, of Freston Farming Ltd, had wanted the retention and extension of the existing dwelling and the erection of a new dwelling at Valley Lane, close to the junction with the A137.

He already had planning permission to turn the one house into two dwellings, but had then applied for two separate houses.

Valley Lane (Googlr Maps)

However, the inspector, PD Biggers, ruled:

"Notwithstanding the slight benefit the development would bring in adding to housing supply and the fact that a satisfactory access could be achieved by the imposition of a condition, this proposal conflicts with both the Framework and Development Plan policies."

The application made in June 2022 was refused by Babergh District Council at the end of July 2022 and the planning inspector backed the plannersin a decision notice issued last week.

In his report Mr Bigger concluded development of the site would have a significant, adverse impact on the countryside setting and would outweigh the minor benefit in providing a single house.

While he accepted a suitable access could be provided he added that 'to do so however would have a detrimental impact on the character of the lane, at least in the short term, with the removal of the hedgerow and until the replacement hedge established itself'.