Planning appeal decision
Five Acre, Alverdiscott Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4PP
Planning appeal 3355007 at Five Acre, Alverdiscott Road, Bideford, Devon, EX39 4PP (Torridge District Council) was dismissed on 17 June 2025 by Inspector Butcher C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.
5m extension to west elevation replacing 6m larger extension, roof removed and replaced with first floor, increased curtilage for access and larger garden, existing vehicular access blocked with trees and shrubs, utilisation of 2nd access in north boundary
- Authority
- Torridge District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Butcher C
- Postcode
- EX39 4PP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the surrounding area
- whether the arrangements for foul drainage would be satisfactory
What decided it
The harm to character and appearance caused by the incongruous modern design and substantial increase in built form in a low-density rural landscape, which alone was sufficient to dismiss the appeal.
No material considerations, either individually or in combination, outweighed the identified harm to character and appearance and associated development plan conflict.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy ST04Policy DM04Policy DM08aPolicy ST14Policy DM25Policy DM02
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 Torridge
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Allowed16 September 20266009632Land At Grid Reference 235658 108325, Holsworthy Beacon, Holsworthy, EX22 7NE
- Dismissed1 September 20266010166Nectar Haze, Bounds Cross, Pyworthy, EX22 6LH
- Dismissed12 August 20266009975Land Adjacent Allwyn, Staddon Road, Holsworthy, EX22 6NH
- Allowed6 July 20266006878Land At Pitt Bungalow, Pitt Lane, Appledore, EX39 1QB
- Dismissed18 May 20266004820Land At Grid Reference 243890 125702, High Park Close, Bideford, Devon, EX39 3HJ
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.
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