Land to the South of B4042, Little Somerford

Planning appeal 3349380 at Land to the South of B4042, Little Somerford (Wiltshire Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 3 February 2025 by Inspector Jarratt P, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the principle of development is acceptable in open countryside having regard to policies for the location of housing.

without planning permission, the material change of use of the land from agriculture to the mixed use of agriculture, the stationing of vehicles (including two buses) for residential purposes and the use of land for the storage of building materials and non-agricultural vehicles

Authority: Wiltshire Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Hearing
Development: caravan-gypsy · Change of use
Inspector: Jarratt P

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

whether the principle of development is acceptable in open countryside having regard to policies for the location of housing
the impact of the development on the character and appearance of the countryside
whether the use represents sustainable development

What decided it

The continuing harm to the character and appearance of the open countryside caused by the unauthorised residential use was not outweighed by the appellant's personal circumstances or the lack of significant sustainability harm.

the appellant's personal circumstances and the lack of significant harm to sustainability were outweighed by the continuing harm to the open countryside caused by the unauthorised use

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: CP1 (Settlement Strategy)CP2 (Delivery Strategy)CP46CP48H4 (North Wiltshire Local Plan)CS Policy 51CS Policy 57Core Policy 60Core Policy 61
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 84

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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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.