The expansion of a touring caravan park between Bridgwater and the Quantock Hills can remain in place after Somerset Council’s planning committee north unanimously approved the retrospective application on August 11.
Cutters Combe, located on Enmore Road in the village of Enmore, is within walking distance of Durleigh Reservoir on the western edge of Bridgwater. The site was initially established in 2024 with five pitches for touring caravans or campervans. The operator subsequently added another five pitches without first securing planning permission.
The planning committee north, which considers major applications in the area formerly administered by Sedgemoor District Council, voted to approve the additional five pitches after less than 30 minutes of discussion during its meeting in Bridgwater.
The site is positioned on the northern side of Enmore Road, near the former Enmore Inn, according to Bridgwater Mercury. A public footpath borders the eastern side of the property and provides access toward Durleigh Brook and surrounding farmland.
Under the approved plans, no changes to the existing site access are required, and the council determined that additional upgrades to the pitches were not necessary.
The application had faced an objection from Enmore Parish Council, which argued that the retrospective nature of the development demonstrated a “flagrant disregard for planning policy.” The parish council also raised concerns that the additional pitches would “significantly impact on the rural character and views” of the area.
James Venton, representing site owner P. Evans, addressed those concerns at the August 11 committee meeting. He told councillors: “This is a modest proposal to increase the capacity of an established touring caravan site; it is relatively low-key in its nature.
“The parish council’s response seems more out of frustration with the applicant’s retrospective approach, rather than the suitability of the proposal.
“The proposal itself seems sensible and proportional. The applicant is more than happy with the conditions proposed.”
Councillor Bob Filmer, Conservative representative for Brent, said: “This does seem like a sensible proposal.
“I would just like reassurance that we won’t be setting a precedent that people can build something first and then won’t have to pay for biodiversity net gain.”
The committee noted that, because the application was retrospective, the development was exempt from the requirement to provide a 10% biodiversity net gain. The exemption for retrospective applications has been part of UK planning law since late 2023.
Councillor Tony Grimes, who represents the same division, said: “I don’t see any problem with this application.”
The unanimous decision allows the five additional touring pitches to remain, bringing the site’s approved capacity to 10 pitches.
For caravan park operators, the decision highlights the distinction between the planning status of an existing site and the requirements that can apply when capacity is increased. It also demonstrates the potential planning considerations associated with retrospective applications, particularly where changes to a tourism site have been made before approval was obtained.
While the Cutters Combe application was ultimately approved, the parish council’s objection and the committee’s discussion over biodiversity requirements show that operators considering additional pitches may need to account for planning and environmental requirements before carrying out expansion work.