®Planning appeal decision
Land at Wookey Hole Road, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2NG
outline planning application for residential development including means of access with all other matters reserved
- Authority
- Mendip District Council *
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Evans J
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposal upon the character and appearance of the area, including having regard to the effect upon the setting of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and upon existing trees
- the impact of the proposal upon protected species in the area and upon the integrity of the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site and upon the Mendip Bats Special Area of Conservation
- whether the proposal would make adequate provision for surface water management
What decided it
The substantial cumulative environmental harm arising from the proposal's impact on landscape character, the AONB setting, protected species habitats, and unresolved drainage uncertainties significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits of housing supply and affordable housing delivery.
The significant social benefits of housing delivery (including 40% affordable homes) and contributions to education and health services were substantially outweighed by the cumulative environmental harms to landscape character, the AONB setting, protected species habitats, and drainage uncertainties, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.
Framework references: 11
Plan policies cited: Policy DP1, Policy DP4, Policy DP5, Policy DP6, Policy DP7, Policy DP8, Policy DP23
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.