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Campaigners cause house building plan to be paused

Daniel Mumby,Local Democracy Reporting Serviceand
Chris Lockyer,Somerset
News imageDaniel Mumby Four women stand in front of a brick building with a window and black plaque on. One woman wearing shorts holds a sign reading "need not greed", while another person's sign says "no water infrastructure, water recycling centre at capacity". Two other women are holding a yellow banner reading "doctors full, schools full, roads full, we must stop the developers".Daniel Mumby
Councillors approved the development but it has been challenged by campaigners

Plans to build 750 new homes by the side of a motorway could be reversed, after campaigners requested the decision be "called in".

Somerset Council approved plans for the housing between Bridgwater and the M5 at Bower Lane earlier in September, but a holding direction has been granted after a request from the Somerset Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

The government will now decide whether to formally call in the decision on the development, meaning it would receive a public inquiry.

Hugh Williams, of Somerset CPRE, expressed concerns over a perceived lack of NHS provision, as well as the low level of affordable housing on offer. The developer has been approached for comment.

In a statement, Somerset Council said it would continue to engage with the process.

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Williams said: "In the absence of fully funded and deliverable provision of additional primary care capacity – including suitable premises, workforce expansion and long term recurrent operational funding – the healthcare impacts of the development remain unacceptable."

He also described the promised 6% affordable housing within the site (the equivalent of 45 properties) as "totally inadequate", arguing the developer would not be meeting the needs of local people.

News imageDaniel Mumby A mass of grassland, slightly brown. It has hedges running along its edges, and a blue sky above. In the far distance there are houses.Daniel Mumby
Campaigners warn there is too little NHS provision to handle the new development

Sir Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, has written to the National Planning Casework Unit (NPCU) to give his backing to any government call-in.

He said: "I remain concerned that this development does not provide enough affordable housing or adequately address the pressures it will place on our GP surgeries, schools and roads."

A spokesperson for Somerset Council said: "A holding direction prevents the local planning authority from issuing a decision while the Secretary of State considers whether to call in the application for their own determination.

"We will continue to engage with the process and await further guidance from the Secretary of State before commenting further."

The NPCU said a decision on calling in planning will be made in "due course".

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