Planning appeal decision
Springfield Farm, East Stowford, Chittlehampton, Umberleigh, Devon, EX37 9RU
Planning appeal 3374699 at Springfield Farm, East Stowford, Chittlehampton, Umberleigh, Devon, EX37 9RU (North Devon District Council) was dismissed on 20 February 2026 by Inspector Perrins N, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether there is a functional need for the proposed development and the location is justified.
Erection of a general purpose agricultural building and associated access track
- Authority
- North Devon District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- agricultural · Minor general industry/storage/warehousing
- Inspector
- Perrins N
- Postcode
- EX37 9RU
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether there is a functional need for the proposed development and the location is justified
- The effect of the proposed development on the landscape character of the area
- Biodiversity
What decided it
The failure to demonstrate that the appeal site location 17 miles from the main farm was reasonably necessary and justified, combined with the resulting unnecessary harm to landscape character, meant the proposal could not be supported despite acknowledged benefits to the rural economy.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy ST02Policy ST07Policy ST10Policy DM14Policy ST04Policy DM04
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 88Paragraph 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 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 2026
- 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.
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