MINEHEAD and other West Somerset towns may have to bear the brunt of the district’s housing growth until a solution to the phosphates crisis is found.

Around 18,000 homes across Somerset have been delayed following the Dutch N court ruling, which bans any net increase in phosphate levels on the Somerset Levels and Moors, writes Daniel Mumby.

Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) has been particularly affected by the crisis and has launched a new system of phosphate credits in a bid to unlock developments in the former Taunton Deane area.

SWT has now published figures showing the amount of land that can be developed in each part of the district over the next five years – with the west Somerset coast having significantly more available.

According to its calculations, the former Taunton Deane area – which includes Taunton, Wellington, Wiveliscombe and the surrounding villages – only has enough land for just over four years’ supply in March 2022.

This rises to just over five years’ supply if the phosphate credits and other measures are taken into account, meaning a total of 3,673 homes could be feasibly delivered by 2028.

The former West Somerset area – which includes Minehead, Watchet, Williton and the surrounding villages – has nearly seven-and-a-half years’ land supply, with 846 homes expected to be delivered over the period.

Little of West Somerset falls within the Levels and Moors catchment area, so developers do not need to secure mitigation before homes can be built there.

West Somerset has seen numerous large housing developments approved in recent times, including 350 homes on the A39 Priest Street, Williton; 250 homes on Liddymore Road, Watchet, currently under construction; and 211 homes across three sites on the A39 Hopcott Road, Minehead.

Cllr Loretta Whetlor, who represents Watchet and Williton, said West Somerset should not have to shoulder more than its fair share of housing because of the phosphate crisis.

She said: “Living in Watchet and the problems we’ve had, I think we’ve had more windfall sites than anywhere.

“It seems as though where phosphates happen in one part of Somerset, we say, 'Let’s build them in Watchet, Williton and Minehead because they don’t have phosphate problems'.”

Decisions are currently pending on two further major applications in Watchet – one for 350 homes and leisure elements at the former Wansborough Paper Mill, the other for 136 homes on the B3191 Cleeve Hill.