A PLANNING appeal which saw the council’s legal team back down has been allowed - but at what cost to the taxpayer?

Taunton Deane Borough Council initially refused the application, from land promoters Gladman Ltd, for 205 homes and 60 care apartments on Bagley Road, Rockwell Green, in April 2017.

Gladman appealed the decision in proceedings which began in February, but it was adjourned twice before concluding in July.

TDBC’s legal team decided that its concerns had been addressed and it would be ‘unreasonable for the council to continue to contest the appeal’.

Planing inspector Phillip Ware published his decision to allow the appeal on Tuesday (September 25).

He said: “The proposed development is in an accessible location related to a wide range of services and facilities and, as the council accepts, the proposal complies with SADMP policy.

“Irrespective of whether the council can demonstrate a five year housing land supply, there would be a significant social gain arising from the provision of general needs housing, extra care accommodation and affordable housing.”

A Freedom of Information requested revealed the cost of the appeal to TDBC calculated to include both external consultants and officer’s time is £67,660.67.

Town and county cllr, John Thorne, said: “The costs of defending the appeal are a regrettable but understandable expense because Gladman chose to appeal the council’s refusal of planning consent.

“This left the council a choice between attempting to defend the people of Wellington and Rockwell Green from inappropriate development plans or rolling over and playing dead.

“Unfortunately, they did neither, because their defence was based on a development plan for the Deane which was never going to be strong enough.

“I now fear that the cost to the Deane’s ratepayers is not going to stop at £67,000, but will double, and then triple as Gladman takes the same appeal route with its housing plans for Wiveliscombe and Creech St Michael.

“The planning department at TDBC has time and again let down the people of Wellington. It needs to be strengthened if we are to prevent developers walking all over the council.”

Town and Deane cllr Bob Bowrah said: “While the sum quoted is quite considerable, as ward councillor I would have been letting down the residents of Rockwell Green if I had not supported this planning application to be challenged.

“How much did Gladman’s pay out on this application? It must have been a lot more considering they had a top barrister in attendance with five other members of their team on each day of the enquiry.”

A TDBC spokesperson said: “There are costs involved for the council in defending any appeal, including officer time in preparing written evidence, attending the inquiry/hearing and site visit.

"The costs associated with defending an appeal are an inevitable consequence of the current appeal system in this country which is set out in primary and secondary legislation passed by Parliament.”