Planning appeal rejected for Thurlestone Golf Club hospitality unit

The Planning Inspectorate has dismissed an appeal by Thurlestone Golf Club to retain a mobile hospitality trailer located near Leasfoot Beach. The decision upholds a previous refusal by South Hams District Council.

The retrospective application sought permission for the 17-square-metre unit situated on land adjacent to the South West Coast Path. While the club argued the seasonal facility provided essential refreshments for golfers, walkers, and beachgoers, the Inspector ruled that the trailer’s prominent position had an “unacceptable impact” on the character of the South Devon National Landscape and the Undeveloped Coast.

Despite the club offering to implement restrictions such as muted colors and the removal of signage, the Inspector concluded that the unit created a “cluttered appearance” in an otherwise unspoilt landscape, outweighing the modest economic and tourism benefits it provided to the local rural business.