A planning appeal seeking permission to retain a mobile hospitality trailer on the coastal edge near Leasfoot Beach has been dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate, upholding a decision by South Hams District Council.

The decision, issued on October 2 by Planning Inspector K. Reeves, brings an end to the latest effort by Thurlestone Golf Club to secure approval for the catering facility.

The retrospective application (Ref: 2345/25/FUL) was initially submitted by the golf club in August 2025 to retain the temporary unit, located on 17 square metres of land south of the golf course and immediately adjacent to the South West Coast Path.

South Hams District Council refused the application on November 21, 2025, ruling that the trailer created a "cluttered appearance" in an otherwise unspoilt landscape and failed to conserve the natural beauty of the area.

In appealing the refusal, the club argued that the trailer was small, seasonal (operating between April and October), fully reversible, and served a useful function providing refreshments to golfers, beachgoers, and walkers.

The appellant offered to accept various operational restrictions, including muted external colours, the removal of signage, and a temporary planning permission subject to review.

However, following a site visit on September 1, Inspector Reeves concluded that the trailer’s prominent positioning had an "unacceptable impact" on the character and appearance of the South Devon National Landscape (SDNL) and the Undeveloped Coast.

In the written decision notice, the Inspector acknowledged that the facility offered modest economic, recreational, and tourism benefits by supporting a local rural business.

However, these factors were found to be substantially outweighed by the visual harm caused to the protected coastal corridor.

Inspector Reeves noted that while existing golf club buildings are set well back from the shore, the trailer sat directly within the path corridor as an "incongruous commercial feature" against a backdrop that is otherwise largely open, tranquil, and natural.

The Inspector confirmed that the proposal failed to meet statutory obligations to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the designated National Landscape, conflicting with both the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan and the Thurlestone Parish Neighbourhood Plan.

As a result of the dismissed appeal, the initial refusal stands, requiring the removal of the unauthorised catering unit from the coastal path site.