Councillors in Dorset have approved permanent planning permission for a travellers’ site near the home of actor Martin Clunes, overruling objections from the Wuthering Heights star and local residents. The decision, made on Thursday at a meeting of Dorset Council’s western and southern area committee, concludes a long-running dispute over the future of a plot of land occupied by Theo Langton and Ruth McGill for more than two decades.
The site, located on the edge of Beaminster, includes a caravan, workshop, and mobile van used by Langton and McGill to sell art, jewellery, and metalwork at festivals and shows. The couple define themselves as “new travellers” and sought permanent permission to live on the land they own. Clunes and his wife, television producer Philippa Braithwaite, had argued against the application, claiming the couple were not entitled to reside there and did not meet the legal definition of Travellers.
The vote to allow Langton and McGill to remain was carried by seven to two, according to reports. During the meeting, barrister John Steel KC, representing Clunes and Braithwaite, argued that granting permission would set a precedent, potentially encouraging others to circumvent planning regulations. He stated that the couple had previously declined offers of alternative pitches. “Others will follow,” Steel argued. “Others are waiting. The strong message will be that those with similar lifestyles can acquire around the planning process in Dorset.”
Concerns were also raised by other neighbours, who expressed fears that approving the application would open the door to further encampments in the area. One resident reported fresh encampments already appearing, including a foraging business operating in nearby woods. However, support for Langton and McGill was also voiced, highlighting their contributions to the local community through volunteer work and art workshops.
Reverend Jonathan Herbert, a chaplain to Gypsies and Travellers in the Salisbury diocese, advocated for the couple, praising their off-grid, low-carbon lifestyle as a positive example. The couple’s agent, Simon Rushton, emphasized the importance of accommodating diverse lifestyles within communities, stating, “There is room in our communities for difference.”
Dorset Council planning officer Bob Burden stated the council was satisfied that Langton and McGill met the criteria of Travellers, regularly journeying around the country to sell their handmade goods. He also noted the council’s difficulty in securing sufficient pitches on land it owns for Gypsy and Traveller communities. Burden also assessed the visual impact of the site as “negligible,” citing the screening effect of trees and the distance from neighbouring properties.
The decision comes despite previous concerns regarding potential flooding at the site, which led to a deferral of the application in April 2025. A subsequent flood risk assessment determined the risk of surface water flooding was acceptable within the estimated 100-year lifespan of the development. The approved plans include conditions requiring the removal of alterations if Langton and McGill cease to occupy the property and limiting the site to a maximum of two residential caravans.
Abbie Kirkby, head of public affairs and policy at Friends, Families and Travellers, a charity working to end discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, stated that a shortage of available sites across the country forces families into lengthy and adversarial planning battles. “Across the country, Gypsy and Traveller families face an impossible choice – a dwindling number of available stopping places, or long, costly and adversarial planning battles that can last for years,” Kirkby said. “This uncertainty takes a heavy toll on families who are simply trying to live safely and peacefully on land they own.”
