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Dismissed12 November 20253371498

Land at Eastacombe, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3NT

Planning appeal 3371498 at Land at Eastacombe, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 3NT (North Devon District Council) was dismissed on 12 November 2025 by Inspector Hills J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development.

proposed residential development for up to 5 dwellings, access and drainage”

Authority
North Devon District Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector
Hills J
Postcode
EX31 3NT

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether the site is suitable for residential development, having regard to its location, the proposed land use and the amount of development

What decided it

The poor accessibility to services and facilities by sustainable transport modes, combined with the harmful impact on rural character from the amount of development proposed, significantly and demonstrably outweighs the modest housing delivery benefits, particularly given the local plan's clear strategy to direct development to sustainable locations.

The social benefits of housing delivery (significant weight) and modest economic benefits were outweighed by the significant weight of harm from poor access to services by sustainable transport modes and conflict with the development plan's spatial strategy, and the harm to character and appearance from the amount of development; the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy ST10Policy ST07Policy ST17Policy ST04Policy DM04Policy DM08A
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 83Paragraph 117Paragraph 82Paragraph 115Paragraph 135

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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in North Devon

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025

  1. Notice varied and upheld16 September 20263367531
    31 High Street, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9DA
  2. Dismissed7 August 20266008489
    Quiet Waters, Atherington, EX37 9HZ
  3. Dismissed3 August 20266010545
    Land South of Four Crossway, Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, EX32 7JL
  4. Dismissed24 June 20266005672
    Land off Bottoms Lane, Darracott, EX33 1JY
  5. Allowed18 June 20266006157
    Horseshoe Lodge, Burrington, Umberleigh, EX37 9LH

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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.