FOR the second time in as many days, a council has overwhelmingly rejected plans to build more than 300 homes on the edge of Chard.

Tatworth and Forton parish council met for an emergency meeting last night (May 23) to discuss and vote on the amended planning application for 323 homes on land between A358 and B3162, which was recently submitted by Persimmon Homes South West.

Seven out of eight councillors voted to recommend refusal for the development, which is due to go before South Somerset District Council's Area West committee in July.

The eighth councillor, Andrew Turpin, abstained from voting and explained that as a district councillor he would reserve his final decision until the application is brought before SSDC.

This follows Chard Town Council, whose planning committee voted unanimously to recommend refusal for the application at their meeting on Monday.


RELATED: 323 homes plan rejected by Chard planning committee


Andrew Gunn, SSDC case officer, said: "The application is very similar to before. The main changes to layout are to the west of the site where the roundabout is.

"The one apartment block has been replaced with some houses which we think is much better. The road stays as it is.”

Residents and councillors at the meeting also discussed the development’s aim of forming a link in a relief road around Chard.

The meeting heard that aspirations for a distributor road have been talked about in the town since 1960s, but the current plans would make the A358 link the last piece in the puzzle, not first.

Mr Gunn added: “The transport assessment states that the central junction is way over capacity in peak times and that is without this development.

"What the Chard plan is trying to do is put together pieces of developments to create this route around Chard to take the pressure off this central junction. This plan was in as one of the later phases.

“This could become an isolated development and with Gladman (proposed development for 200 homes north of Holbear) that is 500 homes and it is all going to be feeding back into that same junction.”

A Tatworth resident added: “In the Chard infrastructure plan, it was emphatic that this be the last part of the link.”

Cllr Sandra Beattie said: “I think they have got a cheek. They have only just tweaked it.

“It doesn’t take a genius to work out that it at least looks like two to one houses from what there is now two what is being planned.

“It is clearly not in keeping with this area. They are just trying to stuff as many houses on as they can.”

A member of the public, whose Holbear home borders the site of some proposed three storey buildings, said: “If I was to build a three-storey property at the bottom of my garden, it would be thrown out. It is ridiculous, and these are more than 30 feet.

“This project has got no connection with our properties at all, with look or style or anything, and I think it is dreadful.”

Mr Gunn said: “The three storey houses need to be removed from that boundary. Overlooking and loss of privacy can be a valid reason for refusal.”


RELATED: HORRIFIC: Chard residents slam revised 323 homes plan, despite 750 jobs promise


When the amended application was submitted, Simon Perks, regional managing director of Persimmon Homes South West, revealed the developers aims to bring 775 jobs to the area and to start work in September of this year.

He said: “Following public consultation and discussions with the planning department, the applications for Chard and Ilminster are being amended to reflect those discussions.

“Most people living in and around Chard will be aware of our plans for the town.

“We are still in negotiation with the local authority and we are hoping to push forward with this scheme later this year.

“We know that there is high demand for good quality, affordable housing in this area.

“Another major benefit will be the new jobs that the construction will create. These jobs will be in a wide variety of roles, including bricklayers, carpenters, roofers, site managers and sales advisers.

“Furthermore, the extra money in people’s pockets will filter down and support local businesses.

“Construction is a crucial part of the overall economy. It keeps things moving. We are pleased to be leading the way in this area and have plans for further expansion in the years to come.

“The vision for the development is to build an attractive residential development within the existing landscape and deliver a mix and variety of house-types to reflect local need and provision.”

The parish council recommended the application for refusal previously, with their reasons including traffic issues, inadequate infrastructure, increased risk of flooding, inappropriate property density, some social housing being larger than private properties proposed, issues with overlooking existing properties, apartments not being suitable for rural areas, some housing plans failing to meet government guidelines on square metres.

At this meeting, the parish council again recommended refusal for application, adding that courtyard parking areas are not recommended based on similar sites already in Chard, disapproval of the predominance of brick in the plan, and the fact that this should be the last phase of the Chard plan.

As well as agreeing that their previous points all remain issues, councillors added “it is an absurdity that 500 houses worth of drivers are going to be added to the volume of traffic on B3162.”