®Planning appeal decision
Land at Ngr 310051 113426, North of Uffculme Road, Culmstock, Devon, EX15 3LA
Planning appeal 6001240 at Land at Ngr 310051 113426, North of Uffculme Road, Culmstock, Devon, EX15 3LA (Mid Devon District Council) was dismissed on 28 April 2026 by Inspector Cahalane R, 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, with particular reference to highway safety, the setting of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, and the setting of the Culmstock Conservation Area.
a phased development of between 3 and 9 Custom and Self Build dwellings
- Authority
- Mid Devon District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Cahalane R
- Postcode
- EX15 3LA
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, with particular reference to highway safety, the setting of the Blackdown Hills National Landscape, and the setting of the Culmstock Conservation Area
What decided it
The proposed location would not create a safe and accessible place enabling sustainable modes of travel such as walking to village services and facilities, contrary to Framework paragraphs 110 and 115 and MDLPR Policies S1 and DM1, and this harm significantly and demonstrably outweighs the benefits of housing and self-build delivery.
The significant benefits of delivering self-build housing in response to a substantial District shortfall were outweighed by the adverse impacts on highway safety and sustainable transport, as the site location would not enable safe pedestrian access to village facilities and services.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy S13Policy S1Policy S3Policy DM1Policy DM25Policy DM27
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 110Paragraph 115Paragraph 116Paragraph 117Paragraph 189Paragraph 190Paragraph 210
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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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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.