®Planning appeal decision
Land at Westleigh, Westleigh, Devon, EX39 4NP
Planning appeal 6003960 at Land at Westleigh, Westleigh, Devon, EX39 4NP (North Devon District Council) was dismissed on 19 May 2026 by Inspector Rose C, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the proposed development would preserve the setting of the Grade II Listed Rock Cottage and the effect on the setting of the Westleigh Conservation Area (WCA) and the character and appearance of the wider area.
outline application for access and scale only for 9 dwellings (6 market and 3 affordable dwellings)
- Authority
- North Devon District Council
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Rose C
- Postcode
- EX39 4NP
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposed development would preserve the setting of the Grade II Listed Rock Cottage and the effect on the setting of the Westleigh Conservation Area (WCA) and the character and appearance of the wider area
- whether the appeal site is an appropriate location for housing with particular regard to the local development strategy
What decided it
The harm to the setting and significance of the Grade II Listed Rock Cottage and the Westleigh Conservation Area, which would not be outweighed by the public benefits and which provides a strong reason for refusal under NPPF paragraph 11(d)(i).
The moderate benefits of housing delivery, affordable housing provision, economic benefits and on-site public open space were outweighed by the substantial adverse impacts of conflict with the local development strategy, harm to the significance of a listed building, and harm to the character and appearance of the conservation area and wider area.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy ST14Policy ST15Policy DM04Policy DM07Policy ST07Policy ST08Policy ST17Policy ST19Policy DM24Policy ST21Policy ST18
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 65Paragraph 215
- Judgments
- Holborn Studios Ltd v The Council of the London Borough of Hackney [2017] EWHC 2823 (Admin)
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
More decisions in North Devon
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
- Notice varied and upheld16 September 2026336753131 High Street, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 9DA
- Dismissed7 August 20266008489Quiet Waters, Atherington, EX37 9HZ
- Dismissed3 August 20266010545Land South of Four Crossway, Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, EX32 7JL
- Dismissed24 June 20266005672Land off Bottoms Lane, Darracott, EX33 1JY
- Allowed18 June 20266006157Horseshoe 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.