®Planning appeal decision
Church Farm, Frome Road, Rode, BA11 6PW
Planning appeal 3312171 at Church Farm, Frome Road, Rode, BA11 6PW (Mendip District Council *) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 21 February 2024 by Inspector Allen M, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the scheme would make appropriate provision for affordable housing, having regard to development viability.
Demolition of existing buildings at Church Farm, Rode (except buildings in the conservation area), and redevelopment of the site for 44 dwellings and associated public open space and improved access. Development of land off Parkgate Lane for a replacement farmyard incorporating 8700m2 of new and replacement employment floor space for the use of agriculture, haulage, building supplies, agricultural storage, food production and ancillary uses together with widening of Parkgate Lane and provision of a new access; and change of use of part of an agricultural field to form an extension to the existing playing field. Provision of two new footpath/cycleways from Church Farm to Church Lane and playing field extension to Church Lane (Access only to be considered, all other matters reserved for subsequent consideration)
- Authority
- Mendip District Council *
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Allen M
- Postcode
- BA11 6PW
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the scheme would make appropriate provision for affordable housing, having regard to development viability
What decided it
The development had already been substantially completed and delivered, with only two dwellings remaining, so there was no risk of the scheme not coming forward, and the rationale for protecting developer profit margins through viability review did not apply.
The benefits of protecting the original 30% affordable housing provision to meet local housing needs outweighed the developer's claim for reduced affordable housing based on diminished profitability during construction
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DP11 of the Mendip District Local Plan, Part 1: Strategy and Policies
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 Mendip District Council
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2024
- Dismissed7 March 20253348485Cheddar Valley Inn, 22 Tucker Street, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2DZ
- Allowed22 November 20243340886Land to the North of Wallbridge Gardens, Frome, Somerset, BA11 1RJ
- Allowed10 October 20243335782Bell Inn, 13 Frome Road, Rode, BA11 6PW
- Dismissed3 July 20243314693Former Greencore Factory, Prestleigh Road, Evercreech, BA4 6JZ
- Allowed12 February 20243323389Forge Cottage Dark Lane, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, BA4 4AQ
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.