EIGHT new houses could soon be built on the edge of a village near Langport after plans were approved.
Drayton Homes initially submitted plans to build seven detached three- and four-bed houses on the site of the former Drayton Nurseries on School Street, Drayton.
However, the plans received objections over the type and the size of the houses, as well as suggestions the developer should make some of the houses “affordable”.
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Now revised plans have been approved by Somerset Council and will see the construction of eight two-bed semi-detached houses that would sit adjacent to the six new houses – also built by Drayton Homes – that were approved in 2020.
Drayton Parish Council made the case that there is a need for two-bed houses as older people look to downsize, which the developer took on board.
Affordable housing debate
Agent Boon Brown on behalf of Drayton Homes insisted there is no requirement for any affordable housing at the site as the National Planning Policy Framework states that affordable housing should not be sought on minor developments (i.e. below 10 residential units and 0.5 hectare site area).
The plans stated that Somerset Council contended the new application actually formed the second phase of the adjacent development, both delivered by Drayton Homes, meaning there would be a requirement for at least 30% affordable housing.
“The first 2019 application for the 6No. dwellings was made by the then owners of the site Mr and Mrs Wells,” the application read.
“Once permission had been granted the site was sold to Drayton Homes Ltd.
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“This current application was made some 2½ years after the first application was submitted and 1½ years after its approval.
“Given this lengthy passage of time, and considering that the second application is made by a different applicant, it is clear that there has been no deliberate attempt to avoid affordable housing thresholds from the outset by subdivision of the wider site.”
To view the plans, visit Somerset Council’s website and search planning reference 21/03106/FUL.
It is easy for developers to divert the intention of legislation. The demand for smaller dwellings will see that they are built. Still, the need for affordable housing cannot be met in this way. Cheap housing is more likely to be found in the re-purposing if older properties.