Planning appeal decision
The York Inn, Imperial Road, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 1BY
Planning appeal 6001345 at The York Inn, Imperial Road, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 1BY (East Devon District Council) was dismissed on 19 January 2026 by Inspector Plenty B, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposed development on flood related matters.
for two one-bedroom apartments over an existing public house
- Authority
- East Devon District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Plenty B
- Postcode
- EX8 1BY
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the proposed development on flood related matters
What decided it
The Sequential Test was found to be insufficient because it unreasonably restricted the search to commercial sites, failing to adequately eliminate alternative sites in areas of lower flood risk, which provides a strong reason for refusal under paragraph 11(d) of the Framework.
The moderate benefits of housing delivery, economic and social benefits, and meeting local housing need were outweighed by the significant harm arising from the failure to adequately demonstrate that lower-risk sites are unavailable, in conflict with the development plan.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy EN21Policy H2
- 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.
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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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- Dismissed7 October 20266013380Land Sout of Courtlands Lane, Exmouth, EX8 3NZ
- Dismissed7 October 20266003095Land at Newlands Farm, Land North West of B3165, Axminster, EX13 5SF
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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