THOSE wishing to live in a desirable Somerset village will have to look elsewhere after plans for 30 new homes were refused.

C. & P. Developments (Wedmore) Ltd. applied in July 2020 to build up to 34 new homes on the B3139 Wells Road in Wedmore, at the eastern edge of the village.

Following three years of consultation and lengthy negotiations with planning officers (which saw the number of homes reduced to 30), Somerset Council’s planning committee north voted in July 2023 to defer a decision until a site visit had taken place.

The committee (which makes decisions on major plans in the former Sedgemoor area) has now voted to turn down the proposals, citing concerns about highway safety and the negative impact on the village’s character.

The site lies on the main road between Highbridge and Wells, a short distance from the Mendip Scout Base and the village’s allotments.

Of the 30 planned properties, 10 would have been affordable – with four plots being set aside for self-build projects.

Emma Jones, a local primary school teacher, told the committee when it met in Bridgwater on February 13 that the new homes would not alleviate pressure on local families who were struggling under the cost-of-living crisis.

Somerset County Gazette: Of the 30 planned properties, 10 would have been affordable.Of the 30 planned properties, 10 would have been affordable. (Image: Angus Meek Architects)

She said: “This is not a development that will help anyone or anything other than the developer’s bank balance.

“The development will mean the devastating and irreversible loss of a green field. There is no safe pedestrian route into the village in these plans.

“The entire plan relies on a dangerous entrance hidden behind a blind summit on a bend on the very narrow main road. The developer has said that moving the hedge will increase the visibility – but you can’t see over a hill even if you move a hedge.”

Sue Worrell, a former parish councillor who was involved in the creation of the Wedmore Neighbourhood Plan, said the lack of affordable housing in the village needed to be urgently addressed.

She said: “Affordable housing is both valued and wanted – Wedmore is not a NIMBY village.

“The housing needs assessments fails to distinguish between aspirational need and actual intent when offered a home.

“If this application is permitted, it will destroy the hope that your administration supports local democracy in planning.”

Wedmore has seen significant housing growth over the last decade, ranging from the Wedmore Grange development delivered by Strongvox Homes (north of the B3139 Blackford Road) to the Cross Farm development of 16 homes provided by LiveWest.

Councillor Bob Filmer – who visited the site the previous Friday (February 9) – said he was concerned about how “prominent” the development would be and whether the proposed access would endanger road users.

Mr Filmer (who represents the neighbouring Brent division) said: “We had a look along the highway at the proposed access, and had some illustrations of the pavement across the front of the site, which raised questions in my mind.

“When we stood on site, the difference of levels between the road and the land we stood on were considerable.”

Councillor Alan Bradford (North Petherton) agreed, stating: “The access onto Wells Road is not particularly good and it probably can’t be improved.

“In the last few years a lot of our villages have rapidly expanded – obviously Cheddar has had an awful lot [of housing], North Petherton has had an awful lot, and Wedmore has have quite a lot.

“People are digging their heels in – they’ve had enough. There are better sites than this about in Wedmore.”

After more than two hours’ debate, the committee voted to refuse planning permission by a margin of seven votes to two, with one abstention.