®Planning appeal decision
Land Adjoining Westhayes, Eastfield, West Hill, Devon, EX11 1GG
Planning appeal 6001406 at Land Adjoining Westhayes, Eastfield, West Hill, Devon, EX11 1GG (East Devon District Council) was allowed on 30 April 2026 by Inspector Reeves K, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposal would accord with the development plan's spatial strategy for the distribution of housing.
the erection of 9-dwellings, including 4-affordable dwellings and associated parking (approval sought for access, appearance, layout and scale (matters reserved: landscaping))
- Authority
- East Devon District Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Reeves K
- Postcode
- EX11 1GG
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would accord with the development plan's spatial strategy for the distribution of housing
- the effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area, with particular regard to the effect on trees
- whether the proposal would safeguard and enhance biodiversity
- whether the proposal makes appropriate provision for affordable housing
What decided it
The Council's inability to demonstrate five years of housing land supply triggered the tilted balance under NPPF paragraph 11(d), and the significant benefits of housing delivery, including four affordable dwellings in a sustainable location, outweighed the conflict with the out-of-date spatial strategy policies.
The conflict with the development plan's spatial strategy was outweighed by the significant benefits of delivering nine dwellings (including four affordable homes) in a district with substantial housing shortfall, the sustainable location well-related to the existing settlement, and the absence of significant adverse impacts on character, appearance, biodiversity and other material considerations.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Strategy 1Strategy 2Strategy 6Strategy 7Strategy 34Strategy 47Policy D1Policy D3Policy EN5Policy NP26 of the Ottery St Mary and West Hill Neighbourhood Plan 2017–2031
- 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
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With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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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.