Most people will have noticed disease surveillance zone signs on the roads around the south west region in the last few weeks. With effect from 31 August, the Government has put in place an avian influenza prevention zone covering the majority of the south west region. The zone covers everything to the west of a line drawn roughly between Burnham-on-Sea on the north coast to Lyme Regis on the south coast. The map of the area and the protection zone rules are available here. Hotspots are currently around Cullompton, Ashburton and Helston as published on the Animal and Plant Health Agency map.
The new NPPF: isolated dwellings
Planning policy has long required special justification for isolated homes in the countryside. The new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) identifies limited
16 September 2026
