Creech Paper Mill, Mill Lane, Creech St Michael, TAUNTON, TA3 5PX

change of use of land to a crane hire depot, including the storage of containers on site in association with crane hire

Authority: Somerset West and Taunton *
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: employment-industrial · Change of use
Inspector: Castle S

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effects of the proposed development on highway safety
the effects of the proposed development on the living conditions of the occupants of dwellings on Mill Lane

What decided it

The mobile cranes result in materially different and significantly larger vehicles accessing Mill Lane compared to the previous use, creating an unacceptable increased risk of conflict and accidents due to the lane's constrained dimensions, lack of pedestrian infrastructure, and substandard visibility at its junction with St Michael Road.

No balancing exercise was undertaken; the development was dismissed on the basis of unacceptable harm to highway safety that could not be outweighed by any material considerations.

Framework references: 111, 112, 185

Plan policies cited: Policy DM1, Policy DM2, Policy CP1, Policy CSM2

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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What an account adds

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