Planning appeal decision
20 St Thomas Street, Wells, BA5 2UX
Planning appeal 6005993 at 20 St Thomas Street, Wells, BA5 2UX (Somerset Council) was dismissed on 17 July 2026 by Inspector Alison Fish, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: Whether the proposals constitute permitted development under Class MA of the GPDO, with particular regard to whether the use of the building falls within Class E of the UCO.
prior approval of proposed change of use of a building from commercial (Use Class E) to residential (Use Class C3)
- Authority
- Somerset Council
- Appeal type
- Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- Alison Fish
- Postcode
- BA5 2UX
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- Whether the proposals constitute permitted development under Class MA of the GPDO, with particular regard to whether the use of the building falls within Class E of the UCO
What decided it
The first floor was not physically separate or capable of independent occupation from the ground floor commercial use, making the building a mixed-use property rather than a Class E use building, and therefore not qualifying for permitted development under Class MA of the GPDO.
The 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.
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