Jurats and advocates for the Environment Department and appellants John and Suzanne Seymour on the Tertre Lane site. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0928961)

THE Royal Court yesterday dismissed by a 5-3 majority an appeal against the Environment Department’s refusal to grant permission to build three homes in a field in the Vale.

John and Suzanne Seymour had wanted the houses, all for family members, on land opposite their home in Tertre Lane.

Summing up for the department, Crown Advocate Rupert Sewards said the decision should only be overturned if the court decided that it did not fit within a band of reasonable decisions that could have been made.

‘Is the field surrounded by housing as Advocate Ferbrache [for the appellants] has suggested?’ he said. ‘In my respectful opinion I would say that it isn’t.’

Advocate Ferbrache argued that as the site was in a settlement area, there was a presumption for development, though this could be rebutted.

• Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.