Land off Moor Lane, Backwell, Somerset, BS48 3LL

Planning appeal 3355982 at Land off Moor Lane, Backwell, Somerset, BS48 3LL (North Somerset Council) was dismissed on 4 April 2025 by Inspector Davies G, following a hearing. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the development would be at risk of flooding.

for the demolition of "Even Keel" and the erection of up to 35 dwellings, public open space, landscaping, sustainable urban drainage system and engineering works, with vehicular access off Moor Lane

Authority: North Somerset Council
Appeal type: major · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Hearing
Development: residential · Major dwellings
Inspector: Davies G
Postcode: BS48 3LL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the development would be at risk of flooding

What decided it

The proposal failed the sequential test for flood risk and the only means of access to the site would remain at risk of flooding, despite reasonably available lower-risk alternative sites.

The significant benefits of housing delivery, including 30% affordable housing and other moderate/modest benefits, did not outweigh the risk of flooding given that reasonably available lower-risk alternative sites existed and national flood risk policy strongly favours avoidance over mitigation.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: Policy CS3Policy DM1
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 174Paragraph 177
Judgments: Mead Realisations Ltd v SSLUHC [2024] EWHC 279 (Admin)

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 authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

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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.