AN outline planning application for a residential care home has been rejected after a lengthy appeal.

The Villafont application for 185-187 London Road, Appleton, was thrown out by the council’s planning officers in October due to the long-term effect it would have on a group of protected lime trees and other mature trees.

They also argued the building was too big and would ruin the appearance of the Appleton area.

Councillors said the development failed to provide any secure parking for bikes and did not meet the council’s transport priorities.

The applicant appealed the decision but Mr Nixon, a Government planning inspector based in Bristol, rejected the care home application for a combination of reasons, including the impact on the health of the trees and changes to a stone wall at the location.

The work to the wall was said to conflict with a number of policies and would spoil the historic look of the village of Appleton.

But he said the three-story building would not be harmful to look at from the A49.

Mr Nixon said in his conclusion to the report: “The first two reasons provide compelling reasons for resisting the current project and the third, at the very least, is currently a supporting objection.

“Accordingly, having taken into account all other matters, I firmly believe this appeal should fail.”

miranda.newy@guardiangrp.co.uk