Land to the East of Thornlea View, Hope Cove, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 3HB

Erection of 6 semi-detached two bedroom affordable dwellings and 4 detached four bedroom houses with detached double garages, associated new highway access and service road, foul and rainwater drainage strategy, landscaping and habitat creation measures and detail

Authority: South Hams District Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Major dwellings
Inspector: Pipkin R

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the appeal site is a suitable location for the proposed development, having regard to local and national policies for the delivery of housing
whether the proposed development would provide a suitable housing mix
the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, including on the South Devon National Landscape and the Undeveloped and Heritage Coast
the effect of the proposed development on highway safety, with particular regard to i) pedestrian access; ii) access to public transport; and iii) refuse collections
the effect of the proposed development on protected and priority species and related habitats
whether necessary obligations in respect of infrastructural impacts, the provision of affordable housing and restrictions in occupancy would be secured

What decided it

The proposal failed to meet the criteria of Policy TTV27 for rural exception sites, particularly regarding the proportion of market housing and the absence of an executed s106 agreement to secure affordable housing in perpetuity, combined with significant harm to landscape character and unresolved highway safety concerns.

Plan policies cited: Policy TTV1, Policy TTV26, Policy TTV27, Policy SH Env1, Policy SH H3, Policy SPT1, Policy SPT2, Policy DEV8, Policy DEV10, Policy DEV20, Policy DEV23, Policy DEV24, Policy DEV25, Policy DEV28, Policy SH Env2, Policy SH Env5, Policy SH HBE3, Policy DEV29, Policy DEV26, Policy DEV30, Policy SH H1, Policy SH H2, Policy DEV32

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

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.