®Planning appeal decision
Shepherds Copse, Wambrook, Chard, Somerset, TA20 3DF
Planning appeal 3304608 at Shepherds Copse, Wambrook, Chard, Somerset, TA20 3DF (South Somerset District Council *) was dismissed on 31 January 2023 by Inspector Hills J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to the provisions of local and national policy and the accessibility of services and facilities.
described in the application as new two-storey dwelling and ancillary garage/workshop
- Authority
- South Somerset District Council *
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Hills J
- Postcode
- TA20 3DF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is a suitable location for the proposed development having regard to the provisions of local and national policy and the accessibility of services and facilities
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- highway safety
- biodiversity
What decided it
The proposal conflicts with the development plan on multiple grounds (location, character and appearance, highway safety and biodiversity) and the Framework provides a clear reason for dismissal due to harm to the AONB, which cannot be outweighed by the modest housing contribution.
Although the Council cannot demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, the Framework's footnote 7 provides a clear reason for dismissal because the scheme would not preserve or enhance the AONB; the modest housing contribution and short-term employment benefits weigh moderately in favour but are substantially outweighed by the conflicts with development plan policies and the environmental harm.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy SD1Policy SS1Policy SS2Policy EQ2Policy EQ4Policy EQ5Policy EQ6Policy TA5Policy TA6
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 9Paragraph 15Paragraph 180
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.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.