Land at SX 612 953 Stockley

1. 1.Insufficient information has been provided through a robust sequential test and retail impact assessment to demonstrate that the proposed food store on this edge of town location would not have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of Okehampton town centre. In the absence of an appropriate justification for this town centre use in this less sustainable location the proposal is contrary to policies SPT1, SPT2, SPT6 and DEV16 of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan (JLP) and the advice of Section 7, Ensuring the vitality of town centres (paragraphs 90-95), of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2024..
2. 2.The proposal would result in the unjustified loss of a lowland meadow habitat, considered to be of local significance, which is not clearly outweighed by the benefits of the development. As such the proposal is contrary to policy DEV26 of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan (JLP) and Section 15 - Conserving and enhancing the natural environment (paragraphs 192-195) of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2024. Application ref.
3. 3.The access to the proposed store would be located, in close proximity to the junction with the exit slip road from the A30 eastbound, part of the strategic road network. Insufficient evidence has been provided to demonstrate the proposal would not conflict with the safe operation of this junction. In the absence of such information, it cannot be concluded that the proposal would not have a severe impact on the wider transport network, particularly the strategic road network. As such the proposal is contrary to policy DEV29 of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan (JLP) and Section 9 - Promoting sustainable transport, paragraphs 115-118, of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2024.
4. 4.Insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate the proposed surface water drainage strategy would minimise surface water runoff and would not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere. As such the proposal is contrary to policy DEV35 of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan (JLP) and the section 14 - Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and coastal change, paragraph 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2024.
5. 5.In the absence of a justification for the development in this prominent and elevated location, the introduction of a large commercial building and associated car parking, would constitute unjustified development that would fail to conserve or enhance the landscape and visual qualities of the locality and would not respect the setting of the nationally protected landscape of Dartmoor National Park. As such the proposal is contrary to policies DEV23 and DEV25 of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local lan (JLP) and Section 15 - Conserving and enhancing the natural environment, paragraphs 187 – 189 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2024.

From the council's decision notice.

Application type

Full Planning Application

Scale / size

Large

Parish

Okehampton Hamlets

District

West Devon

Date validated

19 August 2025

Consultation expiry

5 February 2026

Consultation start

20 February 2026

Consultation end

5 February 2026

Agent address

Broadwalk House Southernhay West Exeter EX1 1TS

Advertisement expiry

5 February 2026

Documents

447