The application site is within the countryside and outside of the settlement boundary of Cheddar where development is appropriately controlled. The application submission has failed to demonstrate a specific countryside need for the proposed residential dwelling, and it would not constitute the infilling of an existing main built up area of a small village, hamlet or clearly defined nucleus of existing dwellings, nor would it be well related to the settlement boundary of Cheddar. As such, the proposed residential dwelling is contrary to Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032 Policies CO1, CO2, CO3 and D9 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

The proposed development is located within Bat Consultation Zone A associated with the North Somerset and Mendip Bats Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The proposed development is reasonably likely to affect protected species, key features and habitats of nature conservation significance, and insufficient information has been submitted as part of the application to enable the 'test of likely significant effect' under the Conservation of Species and Habitats Regulations 2017 to be completed and confirm that the proposed development will not harm protected species or habitats. In the absence of this information, the proposed development is contrary to Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032 Policies D20 and D23 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

The application site is within an area at risk of flooding where inappropriate development should be avoided. The application submission fails to clearly demonstrate that the proposed development is necessary in this location (sequential test), and that it would ensure occupiers and users would remain safe from current and future flood risk for the lifetime of the development, without increasing flood risk elsewhere (exception test). As such, the proposed development is contrary to Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032 Policies S5 and D1 and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Labourham Drove is an unadopted highway, and Somerset Council's Waste and Recycling Collection Vehicles will not travel on unadopted roads to collect waste and recycling associated with the proposed dwelling. The application submission does not include provision for the collection of waste and recycling associated with the proposed development, and the nearest adopted highway is in excess of 300m from the proposed development, substantially exceeding the recommended distances for collection of waste and recycling set out in the Somerset Waste Partnership 'Planning Homes with Recycling in Mind' Document which aims to minimise waste and encourage recycling. As such, the application submission has not adequately demonstrated how the development will be served by appropriate waste collection, given the separation distance from the adopted highway and is therefore contrary to Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032 policies S4, S5 and D2, Somerset Waste Core Strategy policy WCS2, the National Planning Policy Framework and the recommendations of the Somerset Waste Partnership 'Planning Homes with Recycling in Mind' Document.

The application submission has not adequately demonstrated that an acceptable visibility splay can be achieved at the access on to Labourham Drove, nor that an acceptable provision and layout of vehicle parking and manoeuvring space can be achieved within the application site. In the absence of this information, the proposed development is contrary to policy D14 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032 which seeks to provide safe access and ensure car parking is provided at levels appropriate to the development, the Somerset Council Parking Strategy and the National Planning Policy Framework.

The application submission does not adequately detail the extent of hard and soft landscaping retained or proposed, nor does it demonstrate any changes in ground levels as a result of the proposed development or to mitigate and be resilient to flood risk. As such, the impact of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the locality cannot be fully assessed or where necessary, mitigated for. In the absence of this information, the proposed development is contrary to policy D2 and D19 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032 which seeks to ensure development is of high quality and inclusive design that responds positively to the local characteristics of the site and that proposals enhance the landscape quality of an area and do not result in a significant adverse impact on local landscape character, scenic quality and distinctive landscape features, and the National Planning Policy Framework.

The proposed Strawberry Line extension, identified as part of prioritised transport schemes by Policy C5 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan runs adjacent to the application site along Labourham Drove. The application submission has not addressed the impact of the proposed development on the corridor of the Strawberry Line extension, nor has it demonstrated that the proposed development will not compromise the delivery of this scheme. In the absence of this information, the proposed development is contrary to Transport Policy 2 of the Cheddar Neighbourhood Plan which seeks to safeguard this proposed transport corridor, and policies C5 and D29 of the Sedgemoor Local Plan 2011-2032 which seeks to deliver the Strawberry Line extension and safeguard the integrity of the Green Infrastructure Network, and the National Planning Policy Framework.