PLANS for 40 new affordable homes on land at Seaward Way look set to get the green light.

The plans submitted by Magna Housing are due to be debated at the final planning meeting of West Somerset Council today before it dissolves to form part of the new Somerset West and Taunton Council.

The land is owned by West Somerset Council and plans include 24 dwellings for social rent and 16 for shared ownership.

Access would be provided from Luttrell Way, the road which serves the community hospital and Premier Inn.

The proposals include a mix of 1,2,3,and 4 bedroom houses and bungalows, as well as two bridges crossing a rhyne bordering the site, to link with the footway on Seaward Way.

The West Somerset Council planning officers are recommending that the application is acceptable, but want authority to grant permission delegated to the assistant director for planning and the environment as there is still outstanding report required.

This concerns a lack of a Travel Plan being submitted as part of the application, with the Highways Authority commenting that the submitted plans ‘are not of sufficient quality and accuracy to enable the planning authority to make a full assessment of the traffic impact.

It is likely the development would see an increase of 320 vehicle movements a day heading on to Seaward Way, which the Highway Authority say is ‘unlikely to have a severe impact’.

However the Highways Authority also raises concerns over the number of parking spaces allocated in the plan, which falls short of the ‘optimum number’ for a development of this size, and ‘it appears that parking for visitors has not been catered for’.

West Somerset Council’s housing enabling officer supports the application, saying it will help meet demand.