The 3.5-hectare site lay on a hillside between an existing large caravan park and a nearby village. The inspector recorded that for the purposes of paragraph 172 of the NPPF the proposal would constitute major development. As the proposal would cause the existing caravan site to coalesce with the village in an unbroken line of static caravans and lodges, whose appearance would sit uncomfortably in the scenic beauty of the AONB, and hedging would have little screening effect in more important long distance views, the inspector found the scheme would intrude unacceptably into the valued landscape.
Finding the public benefits of the scheme, in terms of providing tourist accommodation and supporting the local rural economy, to be limited, the inspector concluded there were no exceptional circumstances to justify the harm which would be caused to the AONB, or to outweigh harm to the setting of the listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments. With few local services and facilities, and very limited public transport connections, the inspector also decided the rural location would result in undue reliance on private motor transport, contrary to local plan policy.
Inspector: Daniel Guiver; Written representations
