A SCHEME to build four houses on land adjacent to the Fox and Grapes public house at Lifton received the thumbs down from West Devon?s planning committee last week, which overturned a recommendation by officers.
Outline planning consent was granted in August 2000 for the erection of two dwellings on around three-fifths of the site. But the new application proposed the construction of four dwellings while retaining space adjacent to the public house for approximately 18 cars.
Planning officers and the County Highways Authority considered 18 parking spaces to be sufficient, and officers recommended approval subject to certain conditions.
But the parish council recommended refusal because of concern at ?losing almost all car parking for the pub and Coronation Hall and said there should ?at least be sufficient parking on the pub side of the road?.
Cllrs Dilwyn Hughes and Christopher Hill expressed concern at the reduced amount of parking. Cllr Hill said it seemed ?a pity every square metre of land has to be housing?.
The application was refused because the area to be retained by the public house was considered insufficient to provide adequate off-street parking without causing detriment to the amenity of the locality. The committee also felt the reduced area of parking would be insufficient and would threaten the future viability of the public house.