Planning inspectors concluded that the development was “directly harming the rural landscape,” finding that it had “introduced a visually intrusive and urbanised feature into an otherwise open meadow.” The ruling stated that the hard standing had “eroded a measure of the open and undeveloped rural character” of the North Wessex Downs.
Before the construction took place, the site had blended seamlessly into the surrounding meadow, “contributing to the openness and tranquillity of the rural area found beyond the development limits of Kintbury,” inspectors noted.
The paddock had previously served as grazing land and was used for haymaking. For villagers, the meadow held particular significance as the summer home of Monty and Drummer, a pair of heavy horses that pulled the barge along the nearby Kennet and Avon Canal. Since the estate changed hands, the horses have been moved to graze elsewhere.
Representatives of the Barton Court estate sought to justify the development through a retrospective planning application submitted in November last year. They argued that fishing rights along the river represented “a significant income stream which supports the wider upkeep of the land,” making the car park a necessity for visiting anglers.