RESIDENTS of a West Somerset village have been told to “grit their teeth and wait for the mayhem” after plans for 90 new houses were approved.

West Somerset Council’s planning committee met in Williton on Thursday afternoon (February 7) to discuss outline proposals for land off Doniford Road at the northern end of the village.

The plans, put forward by the Wyndham Estate, will deliver at least 31 affordable homes through central government funding.

But concerns have been raised about the lack of local services and the impact of further traffic through the village, especially past the primary school.

Local resident Zita Hobbs, who moved to the area because of her asthma, said she was sad that more green land would be swallowed up to housing.

She said: “I moved here because it’s such a beautiful, beautiful place, and I just feel it’s going to be taken away from us.

“Can’t we encourage families to get out and have walks in this beautiful area? We don’t want anti-social behaviour, and this could encourage that because of the lack of policing.

“I am a severe asthmatic, I have health problems – but there are also a lot of elderly people in the area who have the same issues as me. Green spaces mean a lot to our well-being.”

John Hammond, speaking on behalf of the applicant, said objections to the scheme posted on the council’s planning portal were “relatively limited”.

He also promised that the new road through the site would be fully adopted, and the mix of housing – to be built by the Galliford Try Partnership and Magna Housing – would meet local need.

He added: “Magna could put together a bid from Homes England with the support of this council.”

The site is one of three in Williton earmarked for housing in the council’s Local Plan, which between them are expected to provide 406 houses by 2032.

Councillor Chris Morgan welcomed the plans, especially the higher-than-usual level of affordable housing being promised.

He said: “Having 35 per cent as affordable would be wonderful.

“I would like to see that this project, once started, goes through the whole process to completion within a relatively short time, rather than the affordable properties be built and taken up, and the rest of the site left.”

But Cllr Ian Aldridge – who represents Williton – warned that “the mayhem is going to begin” once the homes were built.

He said: “It goes past the primary school, which is of great concern in Williton because of the large amount of traffic which goes past it already.

“Where are the jobs for the people who will live in these houses? Where are the extra school places going to be provided? Where are these people going to have their medical services?

“At some point before 2032, Williton will have to do something about its traffic. But the very land which the whole housing allocation for the village has been put on is the only possible land for a bypass.”

“Williton now has to grit its teeth and wait for the mayhem. I think we have no option but to approve this.”

The committee voted to approve the outline plans. A reserved matters application, including the layout and mix of properties, will be brought forward in the coming months.