®Planning appeal decision
Land to the East (Builders Yard) of the Guide Hut, Weston Road, Long Ashton, BS41 9BJ
Planning appeal 3356972 at Land to the East (Builders Yard) of the Guide Hut, Weston Road, Long Ashton, BS41 9BJ (North Somerset Council) was dismissed on 26 September 2025 by Inspector Redford R, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: The effect of the proposed development on the North Somerset and Mendip Bats Special Area of Conservation.
for up to 7 detached dwellings and garages with associated access and parking
- Authority
- North Somerset Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Redford R
- Postcode
- BS41 9BJ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- The effect of the proposed development on the North Somerset and Mendip Bats Special Area of Conservation
- Local infrastructure specifically regarding home to school transport
What decided it
The proposal would adversely affect the integrity of the North Somerset and Mendip Bats Special Area of Conservation through the loss of Lesser Horseshoe Bat habitat without adequate mitigation, and would fail to secure necessary infrastructure contributions, both of which are protected by development plan policies and the Framework's habitats policies.
The modest benefits of housing provision on previously developed land and associated economic benefits were outweighed by the adverse impacts on protected habitats and the failure to secure local infrastructure contributions, with the Framework's habitats site policies providing a clear reason for refusal notwithstanding the absence of a five-year housing land supply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CS4Policy CS25Policy CS34Policy DM8Policy DM70Policy DM71
- 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.
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
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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.