Planning appeal decision
Land at 357885 143802 Churchill, Batch Lane, Croscombe, Shepton Mallet, BA5 3RW
Planning appeal 6008155 at Land at 357885 143802 Churchill, Batch Lane, Croscombe, Shepton Mallet, BA5 3RW (Somerset Council) was dismissed on 14 July 2026 by Inspector Alison Fish, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether the appeal site is in a suitable location for housing with regard to the development plan and access to services and facilities.
outline for the erection of one dwelling on site of former cottage (part still existing)
- Authority
- Somerset Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning
- Procedure
- Written
- Development
- residential
- Inspector
- Alison Fish
- Postcode
- BA5 3RW
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the appeal site is in a suitable location for housing with regard to the development plan and access to services and facilities
- whether there are any material considerations which would outweigh any identified harm
What decided it
The conflict with development plan policies directing development to locations with good access to services and facilities, combined with the identification of the proposal as a new dwelling in the open countryside rather than a replacement, significantly and demonstrably outweighed the modest housing and economic benefits even under the tilted balance.
the harm from introducing a new isolated dwelling in the countryside in conflict with the development plan significantly and demonstrably outweighed the very modest benefits of housing delivery and construction activity, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development did not apply
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy CP1Policy CP2Policy CP4
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11
- Judgments
- Trustees of Castell-y-Mynach Estate v Taff-Ely BC [1985] JPL 40
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
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision


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The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2026
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- Allowed21 September 20266008548Land at Polden View, Maunsel Road, North Newton, TA7 0BS
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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