Related Articles
Martin Clunes has lost his four-year battle over a planning dispute to stop a permanent Travellers’ site being built near his home. The actor, known for his role in Doc Martin and, most recently, Wuthering Heights, has been in a battle for years, along with other neighbours near his property in Dorset, who had objected to plans made by Theo Langton and Ruth McGill.
The couple had applied for planning permission to continue living in their mobile home on land they own at Meerhay, where they have resided for 25 years, and Officers at Dorset Council had recommended the plans for approval in April 2025, however due to flooding concerns, the case was deferred. There has since been a flood risk assessment which found that the risk was not great enough.
The committee has since voted seven against two in favour of accepting the plans, along with the conditions which were set by the planning officers.
Some of these conditions include that the alterations can be in place while the couple are residing there and must be removed within four months of them leaving or no longer being “permanent occupants” of the property. The conditions also limit the number of caravans on the site to two.
The planning officer, Bob Burden, stated the council’s gypsy liaison officer was “satisfied” that the couple’s movements met the definition of Travellers, stating: “There is a growing and significant unmet need for sites, we simply cannot find sufficient sites for gypsies and Travellers.”
Burden stated the impact on neighbours was “limited” because there was “no unacceptable overlooking privacy issues” and explained that the permission would be “limited to the use of the couple”.
John Steel KC, representing Clunes, said: “The applicants are not statutory Travellers, but even assuming they are, they cannot on one hand reject sites offered to them and at the same time benefit from Traveller policy exceptions. Others will follow, others are waiting, there is evidence of this already on adjacent land.
“The strong message will be that those with similar lifestyles can get round the planning system in Dorset.”
Clunes and his wife had previously submitted their concerns over the proposals, however it has been determined that the plans to continue living in the property can go ahead.
