A COUPLE'S plans to convert three empty office buildings into houses are stuck in limbo - after shelling out almost £1.5million.

Chris Wearden and Peter Higgins have been told their planning applications for the three-storey properties in Taunton's Crescent can't currently be considered due to pollution fears.

They are among scores of local companies and individuals affected by advice from Natural England to planning authorities to halt awarding permission for certain developments over fears of "unacceptable levels of phosphates" being discharged onto the Somerset Levels and Moors.

Mr Wearden said: "We're stuck in limbo.

"We bought the redundant office buildings which were built as private houses in 1807. They're Grade II* listed and are in a pretty grim state.

"They were offices with at least 25 people in each one and we wanted to convert them back into town houses with a contemporary twist as a retirement project."

But the plans of Mr Wearden and Mr Higgins, who bought the buildings in March 2020, were scuppered when Somerset West and Taunton Council declined to consider their planning application.

"We submitted the application in the July and sat and waited," added Mr Wearden.

"Then in October the council said they wouldn't be able to permit change of use back to residential.

"We're in a stalemate. Everything's ground to a halt. How can the council say we shouldn't do these things without offering any solution?"

He claims that once converted back into homes, the buildings would lead to an additional 0.30 kilos of phosphates a year being discharged onto the Levels.

"That's a cup of sugar and is of no significance whatsoever," said Mr Wearden.

"We'd be more than happy to donate money to mitigate that, but they can't say how much it would be.

"We're trying to save some beautiful buildings at risk of ruin. It's totally ludicrous.

"What's so frustrating is nobody has an answer.

"If this goes on much longer, we'll be in areal mess financially. We've paid out nearly £1.5million, much of it borrowed. There's no light at the end of the tunnel."

An SWT spokesperson said the county’s district councils have asked the Government to help address the issue to unlock housing development.

They added: “The council leaders are requesting that the Government works proactively with the Somerset authorities to deliver a clear investment strategy to address water quality issues impacting the Somerset Levels and Moors.”