The proposed development site was on agricultural fields located in a green wedge gap in developments between Taunton and Monkton Heathfield. The Council had rejected the proposals on local policy grounds seeking to protect green wedges and the open character of greenfield land.
Tarker sought to justify its proposals by arguing that the rural character of the green wedge would be affected by planned nearby developments and the resulting increase in traffic, road improvements and bus stops.
However, the inspector said in her report (6-page / 119KB PDF) that she considered that the planned developments made the retention of the remaining stretch of hedge lined road "all the more important" if a "perceptible gap" between the settlements was to be maintained.
"Were the proposed development to proceed, the rural character of this stretch of road would be eroded from both ends and little if any separation between settlements would be experienced by travellers along the route," she said.
The inspector said that the proposed development would fail to retain an "effective or readily perceivable" sense of separation between Taunton and Monkton Heathfield and "thus the effective functioning" of the green wedge. She said it would also result in the loss of the open rural character and appearance of the site.
The inspector noted that the Council could not demonstrate a five year supply of deliverable housing land in line with the National Planning Policy Framework and that the benefits of providing needed housing "undoubtedly" weighed in favour of the scheme.
However, she said that the benefits were not sufficient to outweigh the "very substantial harm" she considered would arise from the "serious depletion" of the green wedge.
