Planning appeal decision
Land North of A30 Junction, Whiddon Down, Drewsteignton, EX20 2QT
Planning appeal 3309313 at Land North of A30 Junction, Whiddon Down, Drewsteignton, EX20 2QT (West Devon Borough Council) was dismissed on 6 December 2023 by Inspector Bristow T, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the site is a suitable location for the development proposed.
described on the application form as ‘a farm shop and ancillary cafe, with supporting secondary areas consisting of storage, WC’s, offices and preparatory kitchen space
- Authority
- West Devon Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- retail · Minor general industry/storage/warehousing
- Inspector
- Bristow T
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the site is a suitable location for the development proposed
- The effect of the proposal on character and appearance
What decided it
The location is unsuitable for retail development because the sequential test was fundamentally flawed, the proposal would likely have significant adverse impacts on village stores in the wider retail catchment, and the claimed benefits fall short of exceptional circumstances required by policy TTV26.1.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- SPT1SPT2TTV1TTV1.4TTV2TTV26TTV26.1TTV26.2TTV27DEV15DEV15.5DEV16DEV16.2DEV16.3DEV16.3.iiDEV18DEV20DEV23
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 80Paragraph 84Paragraph 87Paragraph 88Paragraph 89Paragraph 90Paragraph 91Paragraph 174Paragraph 214Paragraph 219
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


More decisions in West Devon
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2023
- Dismissed27 October 20266012878Development Site at Sx 447 766, Lamerton, PL19 8RX
- Allowed23 September 20266014952Higher Collybeer Farm, Spreyton, EX17 5BA
- Notice varied and upheld17 September 20263355120Greenslade, Greenslade Lane, Sampford Courtenay, EX20 2SF
- Allowed9 September 20266002006Uphill (Uphill Farm Events), Yelverton, Plymouth, PL20 6DF
- Dismissed10 August 20266004459Land at Sx 448 762 (Land to South of Fortesque Terrace), Lamerton, PL19 8RX
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.
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