PLANS for 71 new homes in Minehead look set to be approved at a crunch meeting being held today (Thursday, February 22).

The homes in question are earmarked for land off Hopcott Road and include 25 affordable houses with a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes proposed.

Although the plans are recommended for approval, Minehead Town Council is against the plan, which also received 14 letters of objection.

The town council is concerned there is a lack of public transport to support the area, the main sewers are already running at capacity, that surface run-off will affect homes on the road below, and that there is a lack of a masterplan for the whole of the A39 development area, which is allocated for up to 750 homes in the Local Plan.

A spokesman for the Highway authority said: “When this was submitted for outline permission, it was concluded there would not be a significant traffic impact resulting from the proposals and therefore no objection was raised to the principle of this development.

“This remains the case for the reserved matters application.”

The homes will include a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced which will be two or three storeys. An area of public open space is also proposed for a children’s play area, while parking will be provided in a mix of garages, driveways, forecourts and on-street.

Objectors also raised concern over possible flooding, increase in traffic, loss of wildlife, lack of infrastructure, overdevelopment and the design of the houses.

The planning application will be decided upon at West Somerset Council’s planning committee meeting due to take place in the Council Chamber in Williton at 4.30pm.