South Gloucestershire Council has been warned it could face a "hefty bill" after it backed a decision to refuse a planning application for 47 homes in the open countryside north of Bristol - a move that could lead to an appeal.
The development management committee rejected Redcliffe Homes' proposal last month, citing concerns that the development would effectively merge two historic hamlets – Cromhall and Townwell – disrupt views of the Grade I-listed St Andrew's Church, and result in the loss of top-grade farmland at the site north of Church Lane.
Despite officers recommending approval, the plan was rejected by a 6-1 vote. That was subsequently upheld by the spatial planning committee by a 4-1 vote, with one abstention, on Thursday, April 3.
Redcliffe's representative, Coral Curtis, argued at the meeting that the plans included 16 affordable homes, a play area, allotments, a community orchard, a puffin crossing, a 38 per cent increase in hedgerows, a 35 per cent increase in wildlife habitat, and £1.1million in developer contributions towards local infrastructure.
The local church, set to receive £60,000 for roof repairs, and St Andrew's C of E Primary School, which would have seen £236,000 worth of improvements, both supported the plans. The school improvements would include a drop-off parking zone, a coach-turning area, and a new footpath on Church Lane for safe pupil access,
Ms Curtis said: "These benefits are wide-ranging and substantial before anyone even considers the open-market housing that is acutely needed in the area."
Tony Parker, chair of governors at St Andrew's School, said: "We have 67 pupils but it's really worrying about where we're going to head into the future.
"Just 24 children attend St Andrew's from the village of Cromhall, so the rest come from surrounding villages.
"It means that in the future, if more developments and schools in other villages come on stream, those parents won't want to travel to Cromhall.
"Twenty-four children is not enough to sustain the school. It's not enough to sustain the budget we need to employ the teachers, teaching assistants and the resources.
"The school itself is in a very poor state. We have a very old building and two temporary classrooms that have been on the site for 25 years which were secondhand when they were brought in."
He argued that the developers' funding was essential for improving the school's buildings.
David Stockdale, South Gloucestershire Council's principal planning officer, said officers had worked with the applicants on the scheme for 19 months. He concluded that though there are drawbacks to the plan, the positives take precedence, justifying approval.
But Cllr Becky Romaine (Conservative, Chipping Sodbury & Cotswold Edge): "I'm concerned that we are approving building for building sake. The parish has already contributed enough new homes in the area."
She expressed her concerns about the unreliable and infrequent bus services.
Cllr Romaine added: "I'm concerned about secondary school places.
"In Charfield there looks to be a big development already going through.
"I don't know where these additional pupils are going to go.
"With regard to getting to the local school in Cromhall I'm concerned about the safety aspects."
Officers said that public transport serving the hamlet was deemed satisfactory and due to birthrates plummeting "absolutely through the floor" since 2016, there would be sufficient secondary school places for at least the next ten years.
Cllr Matt Palmer (Labour, New Cheltenham) raised his concerns about a lack of local amenities such as GPs and dentists.
Mr Stockdale explained that new medical services could only be necessitated by much larger planning applications.
He admitted: "It will cause a pressure but it's not something we're able to address through the planning system."
Cllr Tony Williams (Lib Dem, Severn Vale) said: "The scheme is very, very good.
"Taking into account the recent appeal decisions that have come through, I propose that we approve this application."
However, no one seconded this so it did not proceed to a vote.
Cllr Palmer then proposed denying permission, which the committee agreed with.
Cllr Williams, who voted against, warned: "I think we are landing the council with a hefty bill."
