The owners of Halfway Farm, a long-abandoned and overgrown property in North East Somerset, have finally succeeded in their quest to redevelop the site after nine attempts, thanks to a niche technicality. The farm, located beside the B131 near the historic Stanton Drew roundhouse, has been described by its owners as hazardous and fit to be entered “only with extreme caution.”
Rupert and Maria Gibson, the owners, have sought to transform the neglected farmhouse and surrounding farm buildings into housing for years. Despite the local Stanton Drew Parish Council supporting their plans, Bath and North East Somerset Council consistently rejected the applications, primarily due to safety concerns regarding pedestrian access along the busy, pavement-free B131.
The latest plan involves converting a large barn into four smaller homes while demolishing the adjacent barns. The old farmhouse, situated on the edge of the site, will remain unaffected.
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After multiple refusals—and two failed appeals—the Gibsons finally secured approval when the planning inspectorate identified a procedural misstep by the council. Although the council initially requested a revised map after the Gibsons submitted their application, the original map was deemed sufficient by planning inspector David Kay. Because the council issued their refusal 54 days after receiving the corrected map—exceeding the 56-day decision window starting from the original submission date—the inspectorate overturned the refusal on this technicality.
This marks a significant breakthrough for the Gibsons, who had previously faced warnings from planning inspector Alexander O’Doherty about the dangerous pedestrian conditions along the access road. With this approval, redevelopment of the long-derelict site is now set to move forward.