Ranks of parked cars would be ‘thoroughly obtrusive’ on a new homes development in Calne.

That was a government inspector’s view when he turned down a developer’s appeal to build 13 homes behind Lickhill Road.

Permission was granted for 10 houses on the land two years ago. In January Hannick Homes applied to build three more, which was rejected in March.

Government inspector Barry Juniper, who visited the site on July 21, backed the refusal on the grounds that parking would affect the character and appearance of the area.

He said: “The design of the houses themselves is unexceptional and they would broadly reflect the scale, form and massing of much of the surrounding development.

“The proposed materials would also be similar to the recently-constructed dwellings to the north-east.

“The parking arrangements, however, would to my mind be thoroughly obtrusive.”

The inspector said the majority of the area would be taken up with parking bays and there would be no room for landscaping to soften the ranks of parked cars.

Hannick Homes argued that parked cars would not dominate the development, as designated parking spaces would prevent the need for cars to park along the cul-de-sac.

Mr Juniper said: “The proposed parking arrangement, which I judge to be more typical of densely built-up inner urban areas, does not reflect other street layouts in the vicinity.”

The inspector deemed the design of the scheme to be unsatisfactory and turned the appeal down.

The application for 13 homes was refused in March on the grounds that the development would be cramped and unattractive, and dominated by hard surfacing and parked cars.