Exmoor National Park

The built environment, individual buildings, villages and settlements are as much a part of what makes Exmoor special as the natural beauty, wildlife and bustling communities. Planning has a vital role to play in ensuring that new development is well designed and carefully sited so that it contributes to the variety and quality of Exmoor’s landscape and provides homes and work places for its inhabitants.

The National Park Authority provides Exmoor’s planning service.

Advice, information and direct access to planning application and appeal decisions, planning committee reports and the Authority’s Plans and Policies can be found within these pages. For ease of access, the E-Planning Contents Table provides links to the various areas and information available in this section.

All Planning Applications for the development or change of use of land within the National Park are determined by the Exmoor National Park Authority at our offices in Dulverton. Planning laws are there to ensure that the development needs of the National Park communities are met in ways which do not harm the special landscape qualities of Exmoor or the public enjoyment or understanding of those qualities.

The application process:

When a planning application is received it is examined to determine whether it has all the necessary information to validate. If all the information has been submitted it is then registered and given a target date (normally this is 8 weeks, other than if the application is identified as a Major Development or Environmental Impact Assessment is required). The agent ( and if there is no agent, the applicant) receives an acknowledgement letter from ENPA within 2 days of registration. If an application is missing relevant documents or information and cannot be registered then we will contact you to explain the additional information that is necessary.

All submitted documents and applications are scanned and posted to the website and a paper copy is held at Exmoor House for public viewing.

The Authority seeks the views of local residents, the Parish/Town and District Councils and others as appropriate, e.g. the Highway Authorities, Environment Agency, water companies and specialists employed by the National Park Authority such as ecologist, historic buildings officer and landscape officer. There is a 21 day period to respond in writing. If necessary in terms of the legislation a notice in the local paper is published. A site notice is erected at the site and 21 days from the posting of notice is given for the public to make representations. If amendments are subsequently made to an application and they materially alter the proposed development it is likely that the Authority will renotify those likely to be materially affected and in these circumstances will normally give a 14 day period to respond.

Once the period for representations has expired the case officer is in a position to make an informed judgement on the merits of the proposals based on a combination of ENPA planning policies, all representations (from consultees, neighbours and others) planning guidance and legislation. Most decisions are delegated to the Head of Planning & Community (approx 80% of applications) in accordance with a scheme of delegation, however more significant applications are determined by Members of the Authority's Planning Committee. The Committee meets each month and receives a written report with recommendations to assist guide them in their decision making.

General permitted development order agricultural and forestry development and hedgerow removal notice

The process is as above but the decision must be made within 4 week or 6 weeks respectfully. Under the procedures that have been adopted only the Parish/Town Councils views and specialists employed by the National Park Authority are sought for GDO and HRN applications although others may comment if they wish. A decision needs to be made before the end date otherwise the application is deemed to be granted.

Consultation process

If you feel that an application may affect your interests you can make any observations you feel appropriate. Written comments must be sent either by email to plan@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk, or by letter or fax (see links below). There is also an online form avaiable for all undecided application, simply navigate to the relevant application using the search and use the form provided.

The Authority also has a Planning Monitor Officer whose main task is to monitor developments to ensure that they comply with the terms of any approval given unauthorised breaches of planning control that maybe reported to the Authority are investigated by the Special Duties Officer (Planning Enforcement) who successfully resolves breaches through negotiation without the need for formal enforcement action in most cases.

For more general Planning information visit the Planning Portal:

You can use the tools and information on this site to find out about planning in your area and what development you can carry out around your house, business or farm.

The Portal's services also let you apply for planning permission electronically as well as submit and track an appeal online.

Click here to submit a planning application Online using the Planning Portal

Click here to view Exmoor National Park Authority's Local Plan (Including written statement, Policy's & Propsals Map) hosted on the Planning Portal

LOOKING AT PLANS

Any member of the public has the right to inspect any planning application at the offices of the Park Authority in Dulverton or to arrange with the Clerk of the relevant Parish/Town or District Council to inspect the copy sent to them. Only matters relating to land use considerations can however, be normally taken into account by the Authority when determining an application. It is always advisable however, to phone the Authority beforehand to make an appointment to inspect the plans. A site notice is always displayed at or near the site and anyone is entitled to write to the Authority, within the consultation period, about any application that affects them.

Contact details
Email - plan@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
Phone - 01398 323665
Post- Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9HL

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