HOUSING developers are once again trying to build more homes in Beckington.
Cotswold Homes and Redrow Homes have applied to build 20 new houses on land south of existing homes on Great Dunns Close in the village near Frome.
This latest application follows the refusal of plans for 30 houses in the same area in 2021, with previous, similar plans rejected in 2016 and 2017.
The plans were last refused due to concerns over sewage connections and flooding – which the applicants say have now been dealt with.
The site was previously used as a compound by Redrow Homes to build out the adjacent development, but it has since been left vacant for several years.
The area is surrounded by existing homes, with homes to the south of the site forming part of a conservation area.
Out of the 20 homes proposed in the latest application, which would be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced, six would be affordable with access off Great Dunns Close.
The plans would also see the demolition of an outbuilding, the installation of a sewage pumping station and electricity sub-station as well as the creation of an open green space.
A open green space divides the proposed houses from a conservation area Picture: Trower Davies Architectural Consultants
Agent Planning Ventures on behalf of the applicants said: “The proposals represent a reduced unit scheme, and specifically address the appeal inspectors reasons for dismissal regarding drainage.”
The developers are pushing for the plans to be approved as a result of Somerset Council failing to meet its five-year housing land supply – which as of November 2023 was stated as 3.24.
Agent Planning Ventures on behalf of the applicants said: “Given the lack of five year housing land supply, and given the requirement to identify land for 505 dwellings, there is now a clear urgency to secure sustainable, deliverable, housing sites throughout the district.
“Thus aside from the minimum dwelling requirement for Beckington, and in the absence of any adopted new allocations, the former allocation of the application site for 28 dwellings must now carry significant weight as a material consideration in the determination of any new proposals.”
To view and comment on the plans, visit somersetcouncil.gov.uk and search planning reference 2024/1865/FUL.
How have the drainage issues been addressed. And is there any accountability to carry out what is put in planning application rather than changing it once recieved
I understand they propose to pump the sewage to the sewer by the Village Hall – thus avoiding the Bath Road sewer. This should have happened with all the waste water from the original Great Dunns development. The sewer into Beckington Sewage Works will continue to still for many hours per year as that won’t change. The two main sewers in the village were built in 1951!