A new appeal has been lodged for the development of a campsite located between Taunton and the M5 motorway, as the Planning Inspectorate prepares to decide its fate in early 2026.
Earlier in August 2023, Anthony Ormerod’s initial proposal for a campsite on Dipford Road in the parish of Trull—situated roughly midway between the village and the Taunton Deane services near M5 junctions 25 and 26—was refused on appeal. Following this, Mr. Ormerod partnered with Cosy Barn Holidays Ltd. to submit revised plans for the same number of tent pitches, which Somerset Council subsequently rejected in September.
The latest appeal addresses concerns raised by the council, and the Planning Inspectorate is poised to issue a final verdict in the spring of 2026. The site, positioned at the intersection of Dipford Road and Sweethay Lane close to Galmington Stream, lies approximately one mile from a proposed residential development near Trull Cricket Club.
Key changes to the updated plans include the removal of a permanent amenities building, replaced by a temporary shower and toilet block that can be dismantled outside the tourist season. Tent pitches will be centrally arranged on the site, accompanied by the planting of a wildflower meadow on the northern edge to boost local biodiversity.
To manage environmental impact, a package treatment plant will be installed next to parking areas off Dipford Road. This system is intended to treat wastewater and reduce additional phosphate levels entering the nearby Galmington Stream.
Somerset Council’s refusal was made by planning officers under delegated powers rather than the main planning committee. The chief planning officer, Alison Blom-Cooper, cited the primary reason for refusal as the applicant’s failure to provide “sufficiently robust technical information” on mitigating potential phosphate increases affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Despite collaborative efforts by the council to find a resolution, the developers have yet to meet this critical policy requirement, leading to the current appeal.
Members of the public wishing to make formal representations to the Planning Inspectorate can do so by quoting case number 3376775 at www.acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk by January 19.
The appeal process will be conducted through written submissions without a public inquiry. The appointed inspector, whose identity remains unconfirmed, will carry out a site visit before delivering the final decision next spring.
At this stage, the developers have not indicated whether they will seek costs from the council, which can be awarded if unreasonable behaviour is demonstrated.