38 extra homes in Wedmore, including 15 classed as affordable, are given the green light

Wedmore will soon get some new affordable homes – despite concerns that they will not meet local need.

Strongvox Homes is currently constructing 35 homes off the B3139 Blackford Road in Wedmore, to the east of the village school.

The Taunton-based developer has put forward plans for a further 38 properties, which would see this site extended to the north and provide 15 new affordable dwellings.

Sedgemoor District Council has now ruled that this "phase two" development may proceed, despite residents questioning whether the kind of affordable housing being built will meet the needs of local families.

The plans were debated at a virtual meeting of the council's development committee on yesterday afternoon (March 2).

Keith Boulnois, planning secretary for the Isle of Wedmore Society, said the development would deliver the wrong kind of affordable properties for locals.

He said: "This does not fulfil local housing needs.

"It provides 15 affordable units where the identified need is 18. There is no evidence of need in your own housing assessment for eight one-bedroom units, as proposed.

"This application provides no three-bedroom units and only one four-bedroom unit. Nine families in Wedmore will fail to have their needs met while there is an over-supply of smaller homes."

As well as delivering affordable homes, the development will contribute £104,000 to improving the footpath on Pilcorn Street, which leads from the school into the centre of the village.

Councillor Will Human, who represents the Wedmore and Mark ward, said the village would struggle to cope with further homes without better amenities.

He said: "Wedmore has already undertaken 119 new builds in the last year or two since its neighbourhood plan was passed.

"This new extra part will represent an extra 30 per cent on top of that – in Bridgwater that would be the equivalent of 1,000 homes.

"The infrastructure just cannot cope with more homes. The roads are very tight, and is very small indeed here where it spills out onto Blackford Road.

"Already the school is full, the surgery is full and there are no local services which can accommodate the new people."

Other councillors, however, welcomed the new provision of affordable housing and praised the design of the proposed development.

Councillor Kathy Pearce said: "On the face of it this development is very attractive, but both sides have made very compelling cases.

"It seems to boil down to the demand for affordable housing."

Councillor Graham Granter said: "A lot of rent-to-buy is out of people's reach.

"I think this is an excellent development with everything you could wish for in terms of green credentials and open space."

The committee voted to approve the plans by a margin of nine votes to nil, with one abstention and one councillor being absent due to technical issues.

One planning application in the Cheddar area has been submitted this week to Sedgemoor District Council:

Works to Trees in Conservation Area: Fell one Portuguese laurel at 15 High Street, Axbridge, are wanted by Mr Littlewood.

Planning applications in the Cheddar area that have been decided this week by Sedgemoor District Council include:

Change of use of land to equestrian including formation of a menage and widening of vehicular access (retrospective application) at land to the north of Lower Notlake Drove, Clewer, by Mr W Smith has been withdrawn.

Change of use of land and buildings (including internal and external alterations and formation of associated parking and landscaping) from equestrian to use Class B1 at land to the west of The Poplars, Harp Road, Mark, by Mr Souch has been approved.

Variation of Condition 2 of Planning Permission 50/17/00045 (erection of a part two-storey part one-and-a-half-storey extension and erection of a single storey extension to north elevation, on site of existing to be demolished, erection of a porch to north elevation and erection of a tiled canopy to south elevation) to amend the approved plans to allow for as-built alterations to dormer windows, balconies, chimney, external materials and removal of canopy at Moor View Farm, Jacks Drove, Heath House, near Wedmore, by Mrs P Adams has been approved.

Outline application with some matters reserved for the erection of two self-build dwellings with associated access and landscaping on land at Middle Stoughton, Stoughton Road, West Stoughton, by Mr and Mrs Nash has been refused.

Works to Trees in Conservation Area: Walnut tree (T1) – fell at King Alfred Mews, Church Street, Wedmore, by King Alfred Developments have been approved.