Land North East of Atlantis, Sowden Lane, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 5AD

Planning appeal 3296441 at Land North East of Atlantis, Sowden Lane, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 5AD (East Devon District Council) was dismissed on 13 December 2022 by Inspector Evans J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the location of the site is suitable for residential development, having particular regard to the desirability of maintaining the separation between Lympstone and Exmouth.

Sustainable zero carbon live/work development to include creation of a productive landscape rich in biodiversity

Authority: East Devon District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Evans J

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the location of the site is suitable for residential development, having particular regard to the desirability of maintaining the separation between Lympstone and Exmouth

What decided it

The cumulative environmental harm arising from the erosion of the area's open rural character and the increased reliance on motor vehicles significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of housing delivery and sustainable design when assessed against the Framework as a whole.

The benefits of housing delivery, economic activity during construction, and zero carbon sustainable design were outweighed by the substantial cumulative environmental harm arising from the erosion of the area's distinctive character, the increased vehicular trips, and the conflict with policies promoting sustainable modes of travel.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Strategy 7Strategy 8Policy TC2Policy 2Policy 3
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11

How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.

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The decision letter

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43 other decided appeals within two kilometres of this site. In the app every dot opens its decision, and its letter wherever one was published, and you can draw your own site to see what has been decided around it.AllowedDismissedSplitThis decision

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More decisions in East Devon

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2022

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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.