A HOMEOWNER’S bid to extend his garden into the countryside and build a garage was refused as it would spoil views from a train line.
Thomas Hillier had already built a base for the garage and has put up a canopy, a wall and steps on his land that forms part of the countryside next to his Tram Cottage home in Llanfrechfa south of Cwmbran.
The main South Wales to Manchester train line passes the property which is in the area designated by Torfaen Borough Council as the South Eastern Lowlands Special Landscape Area and protected as a green wedge.
Mr Hillier asked the council for permission to retain the works already carried out, to complete the garage which would include a first-floor home office and for the change of use of the land from agricultural to residential.
But planning officer Mia McAndrew said this was unacceptable including due to the loss of views for passengers on the train line which carries thousands of commuters between Cwmbran, Newport and Cardiff.
Ms McAndrew said in a report, which refused the application, though the site is at the end of private lane away from the public highway it was still in a “sensitive” location protected by local and national planning policies.
She stated: “The site is part of the special landscape area and immediately visible from the train line and a public right of way. Any visual impact from the proposed development is therefore considered to be significant.”
Her report explained development in the green wedge can only be allowed in limited circumstances and buildings have to be justified either for agricultural purposes or if essential and said residential development in the countryside should normally be on existing residential land.
“This development goes beyond this, sprawling into surrounding countryside land,” said Ms McAndrew: “The applicant’s ownership of the land does not automatically change the use to residential.
“It is also considered that this minor residential development only benefits the occupant and would not have a community value to help justify any impact on the countryside, green wedge or special landscape area.”
Ms McAnderw said the existing expansion of the garden and driveway and garden shelter though “not ideal “ could be accepted on balance due to their “relatively limited scale and visibility” and as they had been in place “for some time” but said further development was “a considerable step beyond this”.
The application had also failed to provide details on how ecological impacts from development would be managed and the proposed size and sitting of the garage would harm the area’s character.