FORTY-two new homes will be constructed in Crewkerne despite concerns over the safety of access onto a nearby main road.

Stonewater Ltd applied for planning permission in October 2015 to build the homes on a disused industrial estate off North Street, as well as providing access and parking for the nearby Ashlands School.

South Somerset District Council refused the plans in July 2017, on the grounds that the plans would not deliver “safe and suitable access” for pedestrians and motorists onto the busy A356.

The housing association has now won its appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, meaning that the homes can be delivered in the months ahead.

Planning inspector Colin Cresswell visited the site on May 29, with his final report coming before the council’s area west committee on Wednesday evening (July 19).

A number of buildings of the former trading estate have already been demolished, with Mr Cresswell describing the site as “overgrown”.

The access point from the site is a lane from North Street, which runs between existing houses.

Planning permission had previously been secured for 24 homes on the site, but this lapsed in July 2017.

Mr Cresswell said, however, that this “had little bearing” on the application for 42 homes, since the earlier decision had been “supported by a different evidence base.”

He said: “A number of measures are proposed to improve the ability of the access road to accommodate the traffic generated by the proposed housing.

“This includes road widening works combined with built-out areas of kerb to help improve visibility. “ Mr Cresswell said that the modified road would be at least 4.8 metres wide – “a sufficient width to allow two cars to pass, or for a lorry and a car to pass.

“There is little to indicate that the traffic flows from the development would be substantially higher than anticipated.”

Mr Cresswell added that he did not consider the access point (with the visibility improvements in place) to be dangerous – despite speaking to residents about a crash in the immediate vicinity.

He said: “A local resident has informed me of a recent accident in North Street where a car emerged from the access road into the path of a motorcyclist.

“While I accept that accidents can occur, there is little evidence before me to indicate that this particular access is unduly dangerous.

“Although traffic flow would increase as a result of the development, the road would also be widened and overall visibility would be improved. Hence, overall safety would not compromised as a result of the proposal.

“Furthermore, there is little before me to indicate that emergency services could not access the site.”

The new development will provide at least 15 affordable homes, with Stonewater also contributing £24,000 towards improvements to the Henhayes Recreation Ground.

Mr Cresswell concluded: “I do appreciate that there is local opposition to the proposed development, and have carefully considered the objections lodged during both the application stage and the appeal stage.

“However, the evidence has lead me to conclude that the appeal should be allowed.”

A separate appeal, which requested that the council meet the costs of the appeal process, was dismissed.