A new campsite will be constructed near the M5 in Somerset following a successful appeal by Anthony Ormerod and Cosy Barn Holidays Ltd.
Previously, Mr. Ormerod’s application for a campsite on Dipford Road in Trull parish was denied in August 2023. The site is situated roughly halfway between the village of Trull and Taunton Deane services, located between junctions 25 and 26 on the M5. After a second refusal by Somerset Council in September 2025 for amended plans, the Planning Inspectorate has now overturned the decision, clearing the way for construction within the next year.
The campsite will be located at the corner of Dipford Road and Sweethay Lane, close to the Galmington Stream and about a mile from a new housing development near Trull Cricket Club. The design includes tent pitches arranged centrally on the site, with a wildflower meadow planted along the northern boundary to boost biodiversity.
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Significantly, the revised plans eliminate the previously proposed amenities building. Instead, a temporary shower and toilet block will be installed, removable outside the tourist season. The campsite will operate annually from March 1 to September 30.
Environmental considerations were a focal point in the approval. A package treatment plant on site will manage phosphate levels to prevent pollution of the nearby Galmington Stream and protect the internationally designated Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site. Planning Inspector Felicity Webber confirmed that the plant “would be sufficient” for phosphate mitigation. Additionally, an orchard will be planted on the grounds, and the developers have committed to purchasing phosphate credits tied to agricultural land fallowing within the River Tone catchment if needed.
Addressing concerns about visual impact, Inspector Webber highlighted improvements since the earlier appeal: changes to tent types and sizes, removal of raised wooden platforms, reduced ancillary structures, and expanded landscaping and orchard planting. These enhancements aim to mitigate visual effects over time, ensuring only minor, temporary impacts on the character and appearance of the local area.
Although the site is somewhat remote from local amenities, meaning visitors will mostly use private cars, the appeal was deemed to comply with the National Planning Policy Framework for sustainable rural tourism. The Trull Neighbourhood Plan also supports diversification of farm enterprises, further backing the project’s viability.
A separate request by the developer for the council to cover legal costs was dismissed.