Plans to establish a long-stay car park for Bristol Airport passengers on the edge of the Mendip Hills in Somerset have been rejected following an appeal.
The proposal, submitted by Jane Vosper in December 2025, sought to create a 19-space car park near Badgworth Arena, situated just outside Axbridge and approximately a 25-minute drive from Bristol Airport. The plan included 15 standard parking spaces and four electric vehicle charging points, intended partly to support shuttle vehicles operating between the site and the airport to reduce carbon emissions.
Somerset Council initially refused planning permission in late March, citing concerns that the development would produce “significant and harmful levels of noise,” adversely affecting the quality of life for local residents.
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The Planning Inspectorate upheld the council’s decision. Inspector Juliet Rogers, following a site visit on 22 June, concluded that prospective noise disturbances linked to the site’s operation would be unacceptable. Her ruling was published just before the council’s planning committee for the former Sedgemoor area convened on 11 August.
Inspector Rogers highlighted that, based on current airport schedules, flights operate between 6am and just before 1am, which implies passengers would need to access the car park as early as 2am to make early departures. Similarly, arrivals around 1am might not return to the car park until after 2am, leading to noise and vehicle movements during sensitive night-time hours.
She emphasised that the quiet environment at night would accentuate such noise disturbances, likely impacting residents’ sleep and overall quality of life. The effect would be especially noticeable during summer months, when residents often keep windows open and demand for parking is high.
While the appellant indicated intentions to manage bookings to avoid early morning and late evening flights as well as same-sex groups of passengers, the inspector found the practical enforcement of these measures unclear and noted that future operators could disregard such arrangements.
Badgworth Arena currently hosts approximately two equestrian shows weekly, attracting around 40 lorries or horse boxes. However, Inspector Rogers stated this existing activity does not justify increased night-time movements or the light pollution caused by vehicle headlights, which would disturb the area’s tranquility.
In summary, the inspector determined that the proposed car park would significantly harm the living conditions of nearby residents through unacceptable noise and disturbance, thereby justifying the refusal of planning permission.