Plans to establish a dedicated dog walking area close to a well-loved Somerset beauty spot have been refused following an appeal rejection by the Planning Inspectorate.
Sam Jones submitted an application just before Christmas 2025 to create the facility on open land to the south of Redcliffe Street, near the eastern boundary of Cheddar town within the Mendip Hills National Landscape, previously designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
However, Somerset Council turned down the planning permission in mid-March, citing concerns that the development could not be justified in the open countryside setting and highlighted safety issues, particularly regarding access to the site.
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Inspector Alison Fish upheld the council’s refusal, concluding that the proposed dog walking area would “harmfully urbanise” what is currently a rural setting and potentially endanger pedestrians due to inadequate visibility at the entrance.
The proposed site was planned near the junction of Redcliffe Street, Bradley Cross Lane, and Lippiatt Lane, less than a mile’s walk from Cheddar’s village centre and the nearby Owley Woods glamping site. Plans included opening the facility 12 hours daily, seven days a week, with pre-booked sessions lasting 50 minutes, separated by 10-minute intervals to allow for turnover.
Access would have involved widening and surfacing the existing entry point south of Redcliffe Street, along with the installation of a small car park accommodating four vehicles and a turning area.
During her site visit on 13 July, Ms Fish recognised that the facility could be especially beneficial for dogs experiencing anxiety or behavioural challenges, which often restricts their safe exercise on public or local footpaths. She acknowledged that such a secure space where dogs could run off-lead might not be available within Cheddar’s developed areas.
Despite these benefits, the inspector raised significant concerns about safety, noting that the proposed access lacked sufficient visibility for both pedestrians and motorists. She questioned the adequacy of the visibility splay intended to safeguard road users.
Ms Fish criticised the traffic survey submitted by the applicant, pointing out it only measured vehicle movements during a single hour in the afternoon, which she found insufficient to assess actual traffic impacts. While accepting that traffic generated might be limited, she noted that groups could arrive in multiple vehicles, and site maintenance would also contribute to movements, amplifying the risk.
She stated, “It has not been demonstrated that the proposed access with its reduced visibility splay would be safe. While the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would not be severe, there would be an unacceptable impact on highway safety.”
Addressing environmental considerations, the inspector detailed that the development would bring “a noticeable change in the rural character at the site,” particularly due to tree removal and establishing a hard-standing car park. Additionally, the inclusion of newly planted native hedgerows adjacent to fencing within the middle of the field would appear artificial and disrupt the natural openness.
In summary, Ms Fish concluded that although the physical alterations were relatively minor, collectively these changes would result in harmful urbanisation that undermines the rural nature and visual integrity of the location.
The Planning Inspectorate’s decision reinforces the importance placed on protecting Somerset’s cherished landscapes and ensuring that any development maintains safety and environmental harmony within the local community.