Puzzle Tree Cottage, 1 Blackey Lane, Benter, Oakhill, Radstock, BA3 5BH

Planning appeal 3308234 at Puzzle Tree Cottage, 1 Blackey Lane, Benter, Oakhill, Radstock, BA3 5BH (Mendip District Council *) was dismissed on 1 March 2023 by Inspector Conde L, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development is in a suitable location having regard to local planning policies and accessibility.

Conversion & Extension of a Redundant Building to a Dwelling (to include localised diversion of Public Footpath SM19/3)

Authority: Mendip District Council *
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Conde L
Postcode: BA3 5BH

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the proposed development is in a suitable location having regard to local planning policies and accessibility
whether it would be a sustainable form of development having regard to the National Planning Policy Framework

What decided it

The proposal would result in an isolated home in the countryside contrary to the spatial strategy for residential development, and the limited housing benefit of one additional unit would not outweigh the conflict with the development plan when assessed against the Framework as a whole.

the limited social and economic benefits of providing one additional housing unit were significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the adverse impacts of locating an isolated dwelling in the countryside contrary to the development plan's spatial strategy

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Core Policy 1Core Policy 2Core Policy 4Policy DP22
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 60Paragraph 74Paragraph 80

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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6 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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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023

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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.