Town Planner Pro
Free trial
Search appeal decisions

Planning appeal decision

Dismissed27 November 20256000742

Fernleigh Nurseries, Ludwell Lane, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5AQ

Planning appeal 6000742 at Fernleigh Nurseries, Ludwell Lane, Exeter, Devon, EX2 5AQ (Exeter City Council) was dismissed on 27 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.

permission in principle for conversion of building/garage to 1no. new dwelling

Authority
Exeter City Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure
Written Representations
Development
residential · Change of use
Inspector
Hills J
Postcode
EX2 5AQ

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 harm to the prevailing character and rural qualities of Ludwell Valley Park arising from the introduction of residential use significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of housing delivery and reuse of an existing building, even in the context of an unmet 5-year housing land supply.

The social benefits of housing delivery and limited economic benefits were given significant weight, but were outweighed by the substantial weight given to the conflict with policies directing development to sustainable locations and maintaining character and distinctiveness, and the harm to the rural character of the Valley Park

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy H2Policy LS1Policy CP16Objectives 8 and 9 of the Exeter City Council Core StrategyPolicy DG1
National Planning Policy Framework
Paragraph 11Paragraph 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

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

58 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 Exeter

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

  1. Dismissed27 October 20266012103
    70-72 Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LP
  2. Dismissed20 October 20266010324
    13C St. James Road, Exeter, EX4 6PY
  3. Dismissed7 October 20266015491
    41 Well Street, Exeter, EX4 6QQ
  4. Allowed24 September 20266015017
    550 Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 7DP
  5. Dismissed23 September 20266013697
    Pavement O/S Clarendon House, 3 Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2JW

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.