A new travellers' site will be created near a busy Somerset main road following the outcome of a public inquiry.
Shaun Essex applied for permission in June 2020 to build nine travellers' pitches on a small parcel of land opposite Old Gore Wood in the village of Emborough, a few miles south west of Midsomer Norton. Mendip District Council refused permission for the plans in November 2020, prompting Mr Essex to lodge an appeal against the decision.
Following a public inquiry held in Shepton Mallet in late-June, the Planning Inspectorate has ruled in Mr Essex's favour, meaning the new pitches can be constructed without any further delays. The site lies at the corner of the A37 and Old Gore Lane, a short distance from the woods and within touching distance of the Mendip Hills area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).
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Each pitch within the site would have enough room for a static caravan, a touring caravan and a day room, with a children's play area being provided clear to the northern boundary. A previous application for the same site, comprising two travellers' pitches, was granted on appeal in January 2016 - but while the access from Old Gore Lane has been improved, the pitches have not yet been installed.
Planning inspector Martin Allen visited the site on June 28, publishing his final decision on the Planning Inspectorate's official website. Mr Allen acknowledged that the development would "have an urbanising effect" on the area, affecting views from both the main road and the nearby footpath, and that the scheme "fails to positively respond to its location and the surroundings".
He also stated that the development would be "harmful to the character and appearance of the area" - though he argued there were sufficient other homes in and around the village to ensure that the travellers' site did not "dominate" the landscape. However, he dismissed concerns raised by residents that the site would lead to increase in the number of vehicles on the local road network.
He said: "Given the proximity of the busy A-road which carries a significant number of vehicles each day, I find that any effect in this respect would not be harmful." Mr Allen further stated that Mr Essex was willing to use recycled materials for the construction of the new pitches, as well as installing solar panels on the day rooms to ensure the site's long-term sustainability.
The council accepted at the inquiry that it could not demonstrate a five-year land supply for gypsy and travellers' sites and that there was still a shortfall in provision across the district. The Local Plan Part II, which was adopted in December 2021, allocated one traveller site for the whole district - the Morlands site on Beckery Old Road in Glastonbury, which is also allocated for employment use.
The council's asset management group agreed in principle in July to sell off part of the site, with the remainder being leased to an as-yet-unidentified third party. Mr Allen said he "cannot be certain" whether the Morlands site will be delivered within the next five years, and that there were "currently no vacant pitches within the district" which could meet present need.
He concluded: "It is clear that there is currently a substantial, unmet need for gypsy traveller pitches within the district. The proposed development would result in harm to the character and appearance of the area.
"However, any harm that would result from the scheme would be convincingly outweighed by the other material considerations."
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