Planners have refused a planning application for five homes on the edge of a village near Grantham.

The outline application concerned a 0.55ha back garden site at the back of 25 and 27 High Street, Ropsley.

As Nub News previously reported, Mr J Arundel of High Street, Ropsley, wanted to build homes that would be be 1.5 storeys and be of 4-bedrooms or more, with parking for 15 more cars.

The application to South Kesteven District Council said: "The plan illustrates that the dwellings would enjoy an appropriate standard of amenity, with sizeable rear garden areas. The host dwellings will similarly retain an appropriate quantum and quality of private amenity space.

"The site in this case is physically well contained, and an appropriately scaled residential development on the site would have no harmful impact upon the character and appearance of the wider locale."

However, Ropsley Parish Council, told the planning authority: "There is absolutely no requirement to permit speculative planning applications such as this.

"We suggest the Parish Council's choice of boundary be strongly defended as representing the best interests of the village as a whole."

The parish council also commented: "The application contains no serious assessment of the impact of the development, which provides space for up to fifteen vehicles, upon the safety of pedestrians and road users on the High Street at the site of the proposed access. Councillors will be well aware that excessive vehicle speed along that stretch of High Street has been, and continues to be, a serious problem."

The parish council also complained of a scheme that would "significantly compromise the village's nature and character."

A report by SKDC planning, recommending the scheme be refused, said council consultation saw 11 letters of representation delivered.

They raised concerns including the application being contrary to the local plan, the Ropsley & District Neighbourhood Plan, with consultation carried out.

There was no evidence submitted of housing need, it was overdevelopment of the site, which would harm the Ropsley conservation area and the character and appearance of the area. Neighbouring homes would suffer loss of light and amenity, the letters added.

Weighing up the issues, SKDC planning staff concluded: "It is considered that the proposal is not acceptable in principle. The proposal is development at the edge of the settlement and the proposal has been submitted with no evidence of substantial community support and therefore fails to accord with Local Plan Policy SP4.

"The proposal would not be within a substantially built up frontage or re-development opportunity and constitutes development that would extend the pattern of development beyond the existing built form.

It also failed to meet criteria for in-fill developments and would harm the setting of the Conservation Area.

They added: "There is a fundamental objection to the proposal and it is considered that this cannot be overcome. Consideration has not been delayed by discussions which cannot resolve the reasons for refusal. The decision therefore accords with paragraphs 38 of the National Planning Policy Framework."