Green light for 350 homes, employment space, leisure facilities and open space in Watchet

The Wyndham Estate put forward outline plans for 350 new homes on the A39 Priest Street in Williton, along with employment units, leisure facilities and public open space.

Somerset West and Taunton Council’s planning committee voted to defer a decision in early-November until more information had been provided about how the homes would affect existing flood prevention work in the local area.

The same committee reconvened in Taunton on Thursday afternoon (November 25) and voted to grant permission – despite strong local opposition.

The site lies on the western edge of Williton, a short distance from a major retail scheme which was approved by councillors in September.

Of the 350 new homes being promised, 35 per cent will be affordable – the equivalent of 123 properties, with the homes being concentrated on the western side of the development.

Access will be created near Mamsey Lane, with the eastern side of the site (near the village’s community hospital) being allocated for communal open space, including an orchard, allotments and play areas.

The committee originally voted to defer a decision to get more information about a scheme put forward by the Environment Agency (EA) to tackle local flooding using the site.

The EA has since clarified that such a scheme is merely “aspirational” at the present juncture, and that it would work with the developer on more detailed proposals for the site if outlines plans were approved.

A spokesman said; “We have plans to undertake a flood alleviation scheme upstream at some point in the future, and we are pleased that the applicants have confirmed they would be prepared to work with us in its delivery.

“The flood alleviation scheme is currently aspirational only. We are aware of the proposed development and its implications for future flood alleviation schemes, and maintain that we have no objection.”

Parish councillor Lucy Naylor raised concerns about how much the village’s infrastructure could cope in light of additional development on Doniford Road.

She said: “We have a strong community in Williton;  if there had ever been any doubt about that, the covid crisis dispelled it.

“I hope you can understand why we are worried about a development of such a size, on top of several others, that will take us well over our development limits – and all in one fell swoop.

“This is not a Monopoly board for developers – it’s about people and communities.

“After re-reading our Local Plan, I cannot find an aspiration for our village to become the Milton Keynes of the south-west, or whether concrete sheep or deer may be more appropriate than cows.

“We may even get into the Guinness Book of Records for the highest number of roundabouts in one short street.”

Mark Terrett, who lives on Priest Street, said the proposals would exacerbate existing issues faced by HGV drivers travelling through the village to Minehead.

He said: “Part of the inept traffic plan put forward is a roundabout outside the Co-op. This will be nigh-on impossible for HGVs to negotiate this safely.

“Lorries are using the fire station forecourt to turn around, which could have disastrous consequences for fire engines exiting on a blue-light call.

“It is clear that even a sensible compromise to reduce the number of homes in the development to a safer and more manageable number will not be considered by some of the more narrow-minded, out of touch decision-makers.”

As part of the outline approval, the developer has committed to making a number of additional improvements to local transport – namely:

• Minor alterations to the A39 Fore Street to make it safer for pedestrians, including wider pavements and improvements to the existing foot crossing (a £50,000 contribution)
• Enhancing two existing bus services – allowing service 15 to operate on weekdays all year round (i.e. not just during term time) and allowing additional evening journeys on service 28 from Monday to Saturday (up to £500,000)
• Delivering 1,500 metres of new cycle paths, forming part of the Steam Coast Trail between Williton and Minehead (£200,000)
• Various traffic calming measures within the site (up to £300,000)
• A new toucan crossing on the B3191 Five Bells, providing safer access to the nearby Danesfield Church of England School (up to £200,000)
• New pedestrian and cycle links between the site and the village (up to £500,000)

The developer has also committed to provide £3,664,761 towards new school places in the village and £119,410 towards the expansion of the doctors’ surgery on Robert Street, which has been identified as a priority site by the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

Councillor John Hassall welcomed this investment in the community, stating: “We can’t do anything about attracting more doctors or staff nurses there, but the contribution to the CCG towards expanding the surgery is substantial.

“Bus services are overcrowded – and there are improvements being proposed here. The problems are being looked at, and money is being provided to alleviate them.”

Councillor Ian Aldridge (who represents Watchet and Williton) countered: “Widening the pavements through Williton can only be achieved by narrowing the road. Anything that narrows our roads is going to make the situation worse, nor better.

“I am not about denying the applicant the opportunity to develop this site, which is allocated in our Local Plan. But this is an important site and we have to establish the parameters for developing it.”

After around 90 minutes’ debate, a bid to refuse the plans on flooding grounds was defeated by two votes to eight, with two abstentions.

Following this, the committee voted to approve the plans by a similar margin. A reserved matters application, concerning the detailed designs and layout of the houses, is expected to come forward in the spring.