A travellers' site located near Somerset’s new gigafactory may have to be dismantled following the rejection of a planning appeal. Charlie Barney and J. Birch submitted an application in December 2025 seeking retrospective planning permission for the travellers' site west of Batch Lane in Puriton, situated between the M5 motorway and the Gravity enterprise zone.
Somerset Council refused the application in February 2025, prompting the applicants to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in an effort to legalise the development. However, planning inspector Laura Cuthbert upheld the council’s decision, potentially leading to enforcement action if the land is not returned to its original state.
The site lies just north of Puriton’s main residential area, close to junction 23 of the M5 and adjacent to the former railway line that once served the Royal Ordnance Factory, the current location of the gigafactory. The facility includes two pitches featuring a day room, static caravans, and space for a touring caravan, all situated on hard-standing ground with gated access to Batch Lane.
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This entire site falls within flood zone 3a, an area deemed to have a relatively high risk of flooding according to Environment Agency flood maps. During a site visit on 5 August, Ms Cuthbert noted discrepancies between the existing development and the original plans, citing changes in the placement and design of day rooms and static caravans.
While recognising the gypsy status of the applicants and their wider group, the inspector expressed concern over the site’s vulnerability to flooding. She highlighted risks such as flood depths up to one metre during severe tidal breach events, which could pose significant threats to life and complicate evacuation efforts.
A particular concern was the sole access route to the site via Batch Lane, which is also within flood zone 3a and susceptible to flooding. Ms Cuthbert noted the absence of detailed plans outlining a safe evacuation route and found insufficient evidence that residents could safely reach higher ground in an emergency. She concluded that the development would not be safe throughout its intended lifetime given the flood risk and occupant vulnerability.
The inspector acknowledged only limited harm from building in this rural area, emphasising the presence of a more established Gypsy and Traveller site next door. She also recognised the county’s high demand for travellers' pitches, with the latest assessment indicating a need for 261 pitches in Somerset.
Despite this pressing need for accommodation, Ms Cuthbert determined that the flood risk outweighed the benefits of permitting the site to remain. She emphasised the importance of each planning application being assessed on its own merits and noted Somerset Council’s revised position from January 2026, which concluded development for gypsy and traveller sites in flood zone 3 is unsupportable.
The council may now take enforcement action if the occupants fail to restore the land. However, Somerset Council has previously acknowledged challenges due to limited enforcement resources, relying partly on staff from other regions to manage local cases. No specific enforcement measures regarding the Batch Lane site have yet been confirmed.