®Planning appeal decision
Rectory Lane, Instow, Devon, EX39 4LZ
Planning appeal 3372916 at Rectory Lane, Instow, Devon, EX39 4LZ (North Devon District Council) was dismissed on 11 December 2025 by Inspector Hills J, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the site is in a suitable location having regard to the provisions of local policy.
outline application for the erection of 9 dwellings with all matters except access reserved
- Authority
- North Devon District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Hills J
- Postcode
- EX39 4LZ
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the site is in a suitable location having regard to the provisions of local policy
- the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the area
- whether the proposal would make appropriate provision for biodiversity net gain
What decided it
The adverse impacts on character and appearance, the Undeveloped Coast, and unresolved biodiversity net gain requirements significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of 9 dwellings (including 3 affordable) in a location that conflicts with the development plan's spatial strategy.
The modest social benefits of 9 homes (including 3 affordable) and limited economic benefits were outweighed by significant harm to character and appearance, the Undeveloped Coast, and unresolved biodiversity net gain, such that the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits and the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy ST01Policy ST07Policy INSPolicy ST18Policy ST19Policy ST09Policy ST04Policy DM04Policy DM08APolicy DM08Policy ST14Policy ST21
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 65Paragraph 11Paragraph 193Paragraph 187
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 North Devon
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
- Notice varied and upheld16 September 2026336753131 High Street, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9DA
- Dismissed7 August 20266008489Quiet Waters, Atherington, EX37 9HZ
- Dismissed3 August 20266010545Land South of Four Crossway, Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, EX32 7JL
- Dismissed24 June 20266005672Land off Bottoms Lane, Darracott, EX33 1JY
- Allowed18 June 20266006157Horseshoe 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.