A green field in a small hamlet in the north Devon countryside is precisely the type of location that national and local planning policies say should be avoided for a travellers’ pitch, says the charity that campaigns to protect Devon’s countryside from inappropriate development.
Devon CPRE has objected to a revised planning application for two pitches with hardstanding, day rooms, a children’s play area and other associated infrastructure at Charles. The site comprises approximately 2.2 hectares of modified grassland, bounded by native hedgerows and an earth bank and falls within not only the setting of Exmoor National Park, but the Exmoor Fringe Devon Character Area and the Moorland Edge Slope Landscape Character Type.
Devon CPRE’s objection states that whilst the proposal has been reduced from four pitches to two, following the withdrawal of a previous application, the scale of built development has not reduced proportionately. The proposed day rooms have increased significantly in size from approximately 28sqm under the previous scheme, to approximately 46sqm each within the current proposal. As a result, the overall reduction in built footprint does not reflect a meaningful reduction in the intensity of development across the site, contrary to the objectives of the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (2024), and North Devon and Torridge Local Plan (NDTLP Policy 30), which requires traveller site development to be appropriately scaled and not dominate the surrounding character.
Devon CPRE says, “Given the countryside location, the increased scale of the day rooms, the extent of hardstanding, fencing and their cumulative impact, we believe that the development would be contrary to both national and local planning policy. These require the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside to be recognised and state that development within sensitive landscapes should be sensitively designed and located to minimise the landscape, visual or environmental impact. This proposal does none of those things and should be refused.”
The site would be accessed via an existing unnamed rural lane which connects to the A399 at Brayford. The Local Highway Authority has previously raised a formal objection on the basis that the surrounding county roads are of inadequate width, horizontal alignment, condition and lack pedestrian infrastructure. This was considered contrary to Policy DM05 of the NDTLP and the relevant paragraphs of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)(2024).
The inclusion of a children’s play area confirms that the site is intended for family occupation with regular school journeys. In the absence of footways, verges or safe pedestrian routes, this raises significant highway safety concerns. The reduction in pitch numbers does not fundamentally alter the character or physical constraints of the road network, nor does it appear to overcome the professional safety concerns previously identified.
Devon County Councillor Richard Hopley (South Molton Ward) says, “I have from the outset supported the residents of Charles, regarding the application submitted to allow caravans to be permanently sited here. I believe there is also a risk regarding a sewage plant being located within metres of a freshwater borehole supplying several houses. The Devon verges and hedgerows were destroyed overnight to allow machinery onto the agricultural field, without any prior approval. From the outset this was unlawful and has caused great upset to the community. The highway at this location is also unsafe for the traffic entering and leaving the site. On behalf of my constituents, I am asking for the application in any form to be refused.”
Local residents, who wish to remain anonymous, have made these comments: “The village was disrupted by the sudden start of building work in an agricultural field on the edge of the village over a Bank Holiday weekend last year, with no planning permission. An application was then submitted for four caravans, but was withdrawn following multiple objections from the local community and other agencies. Now, after many delays, a revised application has been submitted and everybody has to go through the whole process again. From day one there’s been a blatant disregard of planning procedures. ”
“I think this should be a warning – coming to a field near you! If it can happen here it could happen anywhere. Everybody should follow the planning rules.”
