®Planning appeal decision
30 Station Road, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1EA
Planning appeal 6001230 at 30 Station Road, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 1EA (West Devon Borough Council) was dismissed on 17 February 2026 by Inspector Faulkner H, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposed development would provide acceptable living conditions for existing and future occupiers, with particular regard to privacy.
the retention of a self-contained basement apartment
- Authority
- West Devon Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Faulkner H
- Postcode
- EX20 1EA
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposed development would provide acceptable living conditions for existing and future occupiers, with particular regard to privacy
What decided it
The serious loss of privacy for future occupiers of the basement flat resulting from direct views into principal living spaces from the garden and patio area would amount to material harm to their living environment that significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of the development.
Although the proposal would deliver a single additional dwelling and the Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply (engaging the tilted balance), the identified harm to the living conditions of future occupiers significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits when assessed against the Framework as a whole.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy DEV1 of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11
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 West Devon
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Dismissed27 October 20266012878Development Site at Sx 447 766, Lamerton, PL19 8RX
- Allowed23 September 20266014952Higher Collybeer Farm, Spreyton, EX17 5BA
- Notice varied and upheld17 September 20263355120Greenslade, Greenslade Lane, Sampford Courtenay, EX20 2SF
- Allowed9 September 20266002006Uphill (Uphill Farm Events), Yelverton, Plymouth, PL20 6DF
- Dismissed10 August 20266004459Land at Sx 448 762 (Land to South of Fortesque Terrace), Lamerton, PL19 8RX
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.