Exmoor NP Local Plan Consultation

Exmoor National Park Authority has prepared the Exmoor National Park Draft Local Plan following detailed evidence gathering, including extensive consultation with local communities and organisations.  The Local Plan sets out policies that will be used to determine planning applications for future development within the National Park; helping to shape Exmoor over the long term.

Included are policies to:

• help support businesses and communities;
• assist in providing local needs affordable housing,
• respond to the challenges of climate change,
• encourage access to the broadband and telecommunications network
• conserve and enhance Exmoor’s environment.

The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway is specifically mentioned as follows:

The reinstatement of our railway is supported in detail in the plan from paragraph 9.104 (page 223) onwards. The whole document is 314 pages so we would advise that you review it on-line or download the files rather than printing it !

Policy RT-D13 - seeks to safeguard the historic former railway routes of the West Somerset Railway Line and the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway from development that would prevent their reuse as part of the access network (rights of way) or would prevent the reinstatement of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.

Policy RT-S2 - sets out the requirements for any proposal to reinstate the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. Proposals are required to replicate the former narrow gauge railway and reuse existing buildings, including original buildings associated with the railway, in the first instance. Any new buildings and associated infrastructure should reflect the traditional character and appearance of the original railway.