Somerset Council is set to incur a significant legal bill after the Planning Inspectorate determined that the Cornish Farm Touring Park, situated near the M5 motorway just outside Taunton, can continue operating.
The caravan park, located on Killams Avenue immediately south of the motorway and near the Killams Park housing estate, markets itself as an “award winning AA 4 Gold Pennant Touring park” welcoming motorhomes, caravans, and tents. It holds a strong reputation with a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Google Reviews.
Owned by Sovereign Park Homes Estates Ltd, the park applied in June 2025 for formal recognition of its use as a caravan site through a certificate of lawfulness, proposing up to 25 pitches for holidaymakers. After Somerset Council refused this application, the owners appealed, leading to a public inquiry in June.
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Planning Inspector Roy Curnow ruled in favour of the caravan park, criticising the council’s approach as “unreasonable behaviour” during the appeal and ordering it to cover the park’s legal costs.
Originally granted planning permission in 2000, the site was allowed up to 25 pitches at any one time, with a 28-day occupancy limit. Somerset Council argued that this time limit was no longer enforceable and had been breached for a decade.
During his site visit on 10 June, Mr Curnow observed that the park contained significantly more than 25 pitches-48 were marked on the site plan located at the reception. He noted there were no restrictions controlling the duration or type of caravan stationed on the land.
The council contended that allowing caravans a greater year-round presence would alter the character of the area and increase traffic in the parish of Pitminster. However, the inspector dismissed this, pointing out there were no existing restrictions on residential use, meaning such changes could happen regardless, and no material change in character would arise.
Concluding that the council’s refusal to grant the certificate was “not well founded”, Mr Curnow also highlighted the council’s “unreasonable behaviour leading to unnecessary expense” by failing to make a timely and correct decision or reevaluate its stance during the appeal. He described the council’s arguments concerning occupancy lengths as “fundamentally flawed and not substantiated”.
The exact legal costs Somerset Council must pay were not disclosed in Mr Curnow’s ruling.