®Planning appeal decision
Merrie Mead Farm, Church Lane, Braishfield, Romsey, SO51 0QH
Planning appeal 3354340 at Merrie Mead Farm, Church Lane, Braishfield, Romsey, SO51 0QH (Test Valley Borough Council) was allowed in part (a split decision) on 9 March 2026 by Inspector Hartley D, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the holiday let accords with the development plan for the area in terms of its location within an area of countryside and specifically policies COM2, LE16 and LE18 of the adopted 2016 Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan 2011-2029.
alterations to and use of outbuilding for holiday let accommodation (retrospective)
- Authority
- Test Valley Borough Council
- Appeal type
- enforcement · Enforcement Notice
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- leisure-sport · Change of use
- Inspector
- Hartley D
- Postcode
- SO51 0QH
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the holiday let accords with the development plan for the area in terms of its location within an area of countryside and specifically policies COM2, LE16 and LE18 of the adopted 2016 Test Valley Borough Revised Local Plan 2011-2029
- The effect of the development on the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area
- The effect of the development on the New Forest Special Protection Area
What decided it
The development's failure to accord with policies COM2, LE16 and LE18 of the development plan, particularly the harm to rural character from the enclosed outside amenity space and the likely future need for replacement storage facilities, was not outweighed by the modest housing supply contribution and economic benefits in the context of the tilted balance.
The conflict with development plan policies was afforded very significant weight and was not outweighed by the identified benefits of economic contribution, effective use of land, and modest contribution to housing supply (one dwelling), particularly given that the holiday let use would not increase permanent housing provision
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy COM2Policy LE16Policy LE18Policy E5
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 131Paragraph 187Paragraph 193Paragraph 194
- Judgments
- Gravesham BC v SSE and O'Brien (1983) JPL 306; Uttlesford DC v SSE and White (1992) JPL
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 appliedThe 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.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
More decisions in Test Valley
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Dismissed23 October 20253363515Manor Farm, Church Lane, Plaitford, Romsey, SO51 6EG
- Allowed19 April 20243322323Hill Farm Park, Branches Lane, Sherfield English, Romsey, SO51 6FH
- Dismissed28 November 20233312404Woodland at Clanville, Ramridge Wood, Weyhill, SP11 9BY
- Allowed16 June 202232906412 Kilsby Flats Bulford Road, Shipton Bellinger, Tidworth, SP9 7TG
- Dismissed26 October 20266012951Barn South Of Former Poultry Houses, Monxton Road, Grateley, SP11 8JG
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.