Town Planner Pro
Free trial
Search appeal decisions

Planning appeal decision

Split Decision30 April 20263351249

Murtwell House, Diptford, Totnes, TQ9 7NQ

Planning appeal 3351249 at Murtwell House, Diptford, Totnes, TQ9 7NQ (South Hams District Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 30 April 2026 by Inspector Curnow R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the development lies in an appropriate location, taking into account whether it would result in an increase in vehicular traffic.

1. Without planning permission: (a) the unauthorised the siting of a yurt on the land for use as residential purposes in connection with an International Macrobiotic Cookery School; (b) the unauthorised change of use of the dwelling Murtwell House from residential (Class C3) to a mixed use of residential and International Macrobiotic Cookery School language school Class C3); (c) the use of an outbuilding as residential purposes in connection with an International Macrobiotic Cookery School; and (d) the construction and use of an unauthorised wooden structure as an office in connection with the unauthorised C3 use

Authority
South Hams District Council
Appeal type
enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
other · Change of use
Inspector
Curnow R
Postcode
TQ9 7NQ

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the development lies in an appropriate location, taking into account whether it would result in an increase in vehicular traffic
  • the effect of the development on highway safety
  • the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
  • the standard of accommodation in the yurt

What decided it

The provision of accommodation in the main house and stone barn would reduce vehicle movements by allowing students and staff to stay on-site during courses, whereas the yurt use lacked essential need and failed to provide adequate accommodation standards for isolated countryside development.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy SPT1Policy SPT2Policy TTV26Policy DEV15Policy DEV10
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 116

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 applied

The 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.

Appeals plan, £15 a month

With an account

What an account adds to this decision

3 other decided appeals within two kilometres of this site. In the app every dot opens its decision, and its letter wherever one was published, and you can draw your own site to see what has been decided around it.AllowedDismissedSplitThis decision
An appeal decision in the app, with the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out beside the letter
Every letter, there to read. We pick out the main issues, the policies and the judgments cited, so you can work through the letter faster.
Searching the full text of appeal decision letters in the app
Search inside every letter. By words or by meaning, filtered by authority, outcome, appeal type and procedure, with every locatable decision on the map and the Inspector named on each.
Start your free trial

More decisions in South Hams

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

  1. Notice upheld20 August 20263355071
    Land at Lower Washbourne Farm, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7UE
  2. Notice upheld20 August 20263355070
    Land at Lower Washbourne Farm, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 7UE
  3. Notice upheld14 August 20263352131
    6 Broomborough Drive, Totnes, TQ9 5LT
  4. Notice varied and upheld21 April 20263350137
    Land at Sx 786639, South Side of New Lane, Staverton, Devon, TQ7 3AA
  5. Planning permission granted31 March 20263339477
    Lower Clunkamoor, Diptford, Totnes, TQ9 7NL

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.