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Dismissed15 June 20266005171

Land At 363907 147136, Fosse Road, Oakhill, Shepton Mallet, BA3 5HU

Planning appeal 6005171 at Land At 363907 147136, Fosse Road, Oakhill, Shepton Mallet, BA3 5HU (Somerset Council) was dismissed on 15 June 2026 by Inspector C Cooper-Young, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether or not the proposal would be in a suitable location, having particular regard to the spatial strategy of the development plan and to the accessibility of the site to services and facilities.

six detached houses and a pair of semi-detached houses and garages

Authority
Somerset Council
Appeal type
minor · Planning
Procedure
Written
Development
residential
Inspector
C Cooper-Young
Postcode
BA3 5HU

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

  • whether or not the proposal would be in a suitable location, having particular regard to the spatial strategy of the development plan and to the accessibility of the site to services and facilities
  • the effect of the proposed development upon the character and appearance of the area

What decided it

The significant and enduring harm to character and appearance combined with the unsustainable location requiring reliance on private motor vehicles demonstrably outweighs the modest housing benefits, even under the tilted balance test.

The modest housing benefits and limited social and economic benefits were attributed moderate weight in favour, but the significant harm to character and appearance and the significant harm arising from reliance on private motor vehicles were attributed high and significant weight respectively, such that the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits when assessed against Framework policies as a whole.

What the Inspector cited

Development plan policies
Policy CP1Policy CP2Policy CP4Policy DP1Policy DP4Policy DP7Policy DP9
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 applied

The decision letter

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More decisions in Somerset Council

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

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  5. Dismissed14 October 20266012027
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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.

In the app this decision sits on the map beside every appeal around it, with its letter to read and the main issues, policies and judgments cited picked out.