Tower Farm, Knowstone, South Molton, EX36 4RR

Planning appeal 3354009 at Tower Farm, Knowstone, South Molton, EX36 4RR (North Devon District Council) was allowed on 30 October 2025 by Inspector Harwood A, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether this is a suitable and justified location for the residential part of the mixed use given the position within the countryside, with reference to the needs of the farming enterprise.

Construction of a small building and material change of use of the land to a mixed use of agriculture and the siting of a mobile home occupied for residential purposes

Authority: North Devon District Council
Appeal type: enforcement · Enforcement Notice
Procedure: Hearing
Development: agricultural · Change of use
Inspector: Harwood A
Postcode: EX36 4RR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether this is a suitable and justified location for the residential part of the mixed use given the position within the countryside, with reference to the needs of the farming enterprise

What decided it

The tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d)(ii), applied because the Council could not demonstrate a five year housing land supply, meant the harm from conflict with out-of-date development plan policies did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, justifying a temporary permission.

The harm by reason of conflict with the out-of-date development plan policies did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the development (small housing contribution, rural economic benefits, personal circumstances), so the presumption in favour of sustainable development tipped the balance in favour of granting a temporary permission notwithstanding conflict with the development plan.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy ST07Policy DM28
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11

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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More decisions in North Devon

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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Notice varied and upheld2 February 20263352855
Bulldog Fish Farm, Snapper, Barnstaple, Devon, EX32 7JX

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.