Agricultural storage building at Land North of Chibbet Post, Exford, Minehead

The site and its setting

The site is beside the B3223, about 1.5 kilometres from Exford, within the dark sky reserve buffer and near three public footpaths.

“There are public rights of way to the south west of the site (approximately 503 metres) – DU 4/11 Footpath, to the north of the site (approximately 586 metres) – DU 4/10 Footpath, and to the east of the site (approximately 381 metres) – DU/4/9 Footpath. The site lies within the dark sky reserve critical buffer zone. The application building would be used in conjunction with the applicants farming enterprise.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

A 119-square-metre livestock building on the site received retrospective planning permission in November 2024.

“There are buildings on or adjacent to some of the land that the applicant rents, but the agent has confirmed that these buildings are not available to the applicant for use. Nevertheless, the applicant already has a building on the land at the application site, with retrospective planning permission having been granted for a 119sqm building in November 2024. That building was for livestock.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended refusal

Officers considered the building too large and poorly related to the boundary and existing building, causing harm to landscape character that public benefits could not outweigh.

“However, part of the reasons the applicant has given for not moving the building closer to the boundary hedge, which would also help to reduce the visual impact includes the ability to use some of the area between the hedge and the building to store machinery, trailers and other farm equipment that does not need to be stored under cover. The proposed building does not sit within a fold in the landscape, but rather it would sit in an elevated, exposed position.”

“While there may be some limited views of the building from the nearby footpaths considering the site's context, existing built structures and the distance between the proposed site and the footpaths, the new building is not considered to negatively impact the enjoyment of public rights of way or adversely affect the condition of the access network, users interests or their character and appearance in accordance with Policy RT-D12.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A resident spoke during the committee’s public speaking item.

What members considered

Members considered the agricultural need, rented land, existing building, visibility, hedgerows and landscape context, and found the scale commensurate with that need.

“Item 3 – Page 2 The Committee’s Consideration An update report was presented, originally reported in May 2026. Members had a site visit prior to this and had seen that the site was not visible from the road unless stopping at the entrance gate. A lengthy discussion took place on the merits on the application. Members noted that the application site is part of a small field and that the applicant rents other land, which includes more than 80 acres within the locality.”

“This is due to the context of the existing building, and its siting would continue to benefit from hedgerow boundaries, which would reduce its visual impact from the B3223, as well as a backdrop of ground. And due to its siting and scale, together with the context of existing development, and subject to landscaping, which can be conditioned, Members did not consider the building would be prominent or significantly incongruous in the landscape.”

Minutes