A major planning application for an industrial estate next to the M40 has been approved on appeal.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council had rejected CEG Land Promotions Limited's application for junction 12 of the motorway saying the development would "cause substantial and demonstrable harm" to the local area.

But a planning inspector has now signed off on the plans after an appeal was lodged and discussed at a public enquiry in June.

"Overall, whilst there would be substantial harm to the character and appearance of the area, it must be said that developments of this type are enormous, generally on greenfield sites, and close to the strategic road network," the inspector's report said.

"They will always be prominent, create large scale change to the landscape character, and have a significant visual impact.

"There is an unavoidable, axiomatic impact, and developments of this scale cannot normally nestle into a landscape, given the large platforms that are necessary to accommodate the buildings."

Plans show the development would be built to the south of the major Lighthorne Heath housing development and land allocated for Jaguar Land Rover's expansion.

The scheme includes a new access off Pimple Lane, two major industrial units and a series of smaller ones.

In the inspector's report it was said the development would create around 1,786 on-site jobs, 1,679 jobs at a local level and 2,679 jobs at a regional level.

The site is expected to take four years to build.

A more detailed 'reserved matters' application is expected to come forward before construction begins.

When the district council refused the application last year, a council report stated: "The proposed development would cause substantial and demonstrable harm to the character of the landscape and would have an unacceptable and substantial impact on the visual amenity of the landscape.

"The economic and social benefits of the proposal are not considered to outweigh the identified harm."

Click here to see the appeal decision in full.