Land Adjacent The Linhay, Ashford, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4BY

Planning appeal 6002256 at Land Adjacent The Linhay, Ashford, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 4BY (North Devon District Council) was dismissed on 25 February 2026 by Inspector Marigold O, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including the Ashford Conservation Area (CA).

erection of 5 No. dwellings, including garages and associated access

Authority: North Devon District Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Marigold O
Postcode: EX31 4BY

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area, including the Ashford Conservation Area (CA)
whether the proposal would accord with the strategy of the Development Plan including in respect of affordable housing and housing need

What decided it

The significant harm to the character and appearance of the area and the conservation area, combined with the proposal's failure to accord with the spatial strategy and demonstrated local housing needs, could not be outweighed by the modest housing supply benefits.

The adverse impacts of granting permission, comprising significant harm to character and appearance and conflict with the development plan strategy, significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of five additional dwellings and limited social and economic contributions.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: ST04DM04DM08AST15ST07DM24ST17DM24(d)DM24(e)DM24(f)ST21ST21(2)ST21(2)(c)ST21(2)(d)ST01DM7
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 84Paragraph 215Paragraph 212Paragraph 202Paragraph 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.

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The decision letter

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More decisions in North Devon

The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026

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Allowed18 June 20266006157
Horseshoe Lodge, Burrington, Umberleigh, EX37 9LH

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.