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Search the Public Notice PortalA new housing development in a Somerset market town will provide no money for local schools after plans were approved for a second time.
Roger Burton put forward plans in May 2023 to construct 22 new homes on Portfield Street at the western edge of Langport opposite the historic Hurds Hill country house.
Somerset Council's planning committee south (which handles major applications within the former South Somerset area) voted to approve the plans in late-February, despite concerns raised by local residents about flooding and road safety.
As part of this approval, Mr Burton agreed to provide more than £184,000 towards improvements to Huish Episcopi Primary School, ensuring that the school had sufficient capacity to accommodate additional pupils.
But the council has now ruled that the school and its counterpart in Curry Rivel will have sufficient capacity until 2030 - meaning the development does not have to provide a penny of this funding.
A statement from the council's education team was published before its planning committee south convened in Yeovil to discuss the plans afresh on Tuesday afternoon (April 21).
The statement read: "Curry Rivel Primary School has a net capacity of 178 pupils, with a planned admission of 25.
"Huish Episcopi Primary School has a net capacity of 210, with a planned admission of 30.
"We therefore withdraw our request for contributions at this time, as we
will no longer need to expand the school to support these housing developments as there is sufficient capacity at this time."
The team estimates that the two schools will have sufficient places up to at least 2030, in part due to falling birth rates in parts of rural Somerset.
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While the education contribution has been removed, Mr Burton will still have to provide nearly £66,000 towards local leisure and youth facilities, and nearly £13,000 towards the proposed expansion of Langport Surgery.
In addition, seven out of the 22 new homes will be affordable - meeting the council's target of 35 per cent affordable housing for any new development of ten homes or more within the former South Somerset area.
Councillor Oliver Patrick (Liberal Democrat, Coker) said: "My head is spinning every so slightly as to why this has come back to committee.;
"I think I understand the technical reasons why, but are there any plans afoot to make sure this kind of thing can be seen off in future?
"This is something that really shouldn't be at this committee again."
The committee voted unanimously to re-approve the plans, without the education funding, after less than half an hour's debate.
A reserved matters application, covering the detailed design and layout of the new homes, is likely to come forward within the next 12 months.
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