MINEHEAD Town Council has snubbed a bid for 71 new homes to be built on land off Hopcott Road.

The planning committee met Tuesday to discuss the application for a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom homes which would take the form of short terraces, semi-detached and detached homes.

However Minehead Town Council are recommending the plans be refused, citing a lack of masterplan for the A39 development area, arguing against 'piecemeal development'.

The council also referred to the lack of public transport in that part of town, the fact the sewerage system was already running at capacity in the area, and concerns over the surface run-off the development would create.

In line with West Somerset Council policy, the proposal includes 35 per cent affordable housing, or 25 units within the application.

A new road will be created and a public play area is also proposed

West Somerset Council has identified within its Local Plan that there is a need for 2,400 new homes within the district by 2032, and this site falls within the council's 'key strategic development allocation'. The site is quite steep, with a slope of 25m from top to bottom.

To view the full application go to the planning section of the West Somerset Council website and search for application 3/21/17/119.