Monkham Down, Cow Down Road, Chard, TA20 4HW

Planning appeal 6003985 at Monkham Down, Cow Down Road, Chard, TA20 4HW (Somerset Council) was dismissed on 1 July 2026 by Inspector R Kent, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the site is in a suitable location having regard to the development plan policies concerning residential development in the countryside with reference to the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the site and its surroundings.

replacement dwelling

Authority: Somerset Council
Appeal type: minor · Planning
Procedure: Written
Development: residential
Inspector: R Kent
Postcode: TA20 4HW

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

Whether the site is in a suitable location having regard to the development plan policies concerning residential development in the countryside with reference to the effect of the development on the character and appearance of the site and its surroundings

What decided it

The proposed dwelling's siting in an open field significantly distant from the existing mobile home, combined with its substantially larger size, would cause unacceptable harm to the character and appearance of the countryside that was not justified by the replacement dwelling need or housing supply shortfall.

The adverse impact on countryside character and appearance, given substantial weight through policies HG8 and EQ2, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the limited benefits of improved accommodation and housing supply contribution, with the presumption in favour of sustainable development not applying.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies: SS1SS2HG8EQ2TA5
National Planning Policy Framework: Paragraph 11Paragraph 232

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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3 other decided appeals within two kilometres of this site. In the app every dot opens its decision, and its letter wherever one was published, and you can draw your own site to see what has been decided around it.AllowedDismissedSplitThis 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.