A farm and bakery in Lewdown, south of the A30 between Launceston and Okehampton, has had hopes for a holiday cabin turned down, writes Alison Stephenson.

West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) planners agreed with their officer’s advice that there is no need for tourist accommodation at the isolated Foxcombe Farm, three miles out of the village.

Holidaymakers would be likely to use cars to get to and from the site, undermining the council’s ambitions for a low carbon future.

Lewdown Grouped Parish Council supported the proposal, and member Richard Alexander told the council’s development management committee that sometimes the Joint Local Plan, from which the policies were taken, was  “a very blunt instrument”.

He said the cabin would help economic activity and provide jobs. Foxcombe Farm is close to the Two Castles Trail walking route and cycle paths and 300 metres from a bus stop.

He added that the parish council is aware of holiday lets in similar locations in the vicinity which are well used.

The committee heard that holiday pods were allowed on appeal (after they were turned down by the borough council) at the nearby Alder Vineyard as there was a ‘hail and stop’ bus service nearby and therefore the scheme was considered sustainable.

Cllr Terry Southcott (Con, Bridestowe) asked the committee to consider giving temporary permission to allow the applicants Mr and Mrs Spooncer to make a go of the business and provide the evidence needed.

The holiday let would be a “critical source of income” for the farm which had been in the family for more than 200 years, the committee was told. In April the farm had suffered a TB outbreak which meant it would have no income for the year.

The owners and their son all did additional jobs to keep the farm going. There was no option to run a B&B as all the bedrooms are occupied and converting outbuildings was “not economically viable”.

The cabin was already on site and currently used as an office.

Planners were advised by officers that they were not there to resolve the economic impacts on farmers but to determine land use and whether it was in the right location.

Cllr Caroline Mott (Con, Bridestowe) said it was a difficult decision but she had to support the officer’s recommendation as the application was against policy.

Cllr Jeff Moody (Ind, Tavistock North) said there was no demonstration of local need and an economic plan not been provided.

But Cllr Sam Wakeham (Con, Hatherleigh) supported the plans. “We should be supporting traditional farming families and custodians of the countryside,” she said. “Farms like this need to thrive not just survive to encourage future generations to take them on.

“You don’t you need to do market research, who doesn’t want to come to Devon? I’m sure they will be very busy.”

Cllr Patrick Kimber (Con, Hatherleigh) said the committee should be listening carefully to the thoughts of the parish council and local community.

He said the bakery showed the family’s commitment to the local economy and the diversification scheme was taking full advantage of the local environment which seemed the most obvious way to diversity.

He added that the location is well-placed for people on cycling holidays as the Granite Way starts at nearby Lydford.