Bridewell Bungalow, Hawkchurch, Axminster, EX13 5XL

Planning appeal 3368421 at Bridewell Bungalow, Hawkchurch, Axminster, EX13 5XL (East Devon District Council) was allowed on 13 May 2026 by Inspector Hawkins S, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the Council's refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use or development is well-founded, turning on whether it has been shown that the proposal would not involve development as defined in s55(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

highly likely to fall within the scope of maintenance, improvement or alterations and would not materially affect the external appearance of the building. The description of the proposed works is sufficiently clear and precise. The carrying out of works for the maintenance, improvement or other alteration of any building which affect only its interior or do Appeal

Authority: East Devon District Council
Appeal type: ldc · Lawful Development Certificate
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Householder developments
Inspector: Hawkins S
Postcode: EX13 5XL

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the Council's refusal to grant a certificate of lawful use or development is well-founded, turning on whether it has been shown that the proposal would not involve development as defined in s55(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990

What decided it

The building had not deteriorated to the extent requiring substantial reconstruction, there was no intervening use, and the owners objectively demonstrated intention to resume residential use, therefore the residential use had not been abandoned and the works constituted lawful maintenance and improvement not requiring planning permission.

The 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.

Appeals plan, £15 a month

With an account

What an account adds to this decision

7 other decided appeals within two kilometres of this site. In the app every dot opens its decision, and its letter wherever one was published, and you can draw your own site to see what has been decided around it.AllowedDismissedSplitThis decision

An appeal decision in the app, with the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out beside the letter — Every letter, there to read. We pick out the main issues, the policies and the judgments cited, so you can work through the letter faster.

Searching the full text of appeal decision letters in the app — Search inside every letter. By words or by meaning, filtered by authority, outcome, appeal type and procedure, with every locatable decision on the map and the Inspector named on each.

Start your free trial

More decisions in East Devon

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

Allowed29 October 20266012451
Land Adjacent Sea Mist, Road From Three Horse Shoes to Norman Grave, Branscombe, EX12 3BR
Dismissed21 October 20266010705
Stamps Building, King Street, Honiton, EX14 1AF
Allowed19 October 20266007622
1 Jennings Gardens, Tithebarn, Exeter, EX1 4BL
Dismissed7 October 20266013380
Land Sout of Courtlands Lane, Exmouth, EX8 3NZ
Dismissed7 October 20266003095
Land at Newlands Farm, Land North West of B3165, Axminster, EX13 5SF

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.