600 homes could be built on Chard border if plans are passed

A full planning application for 200 homes has already been passed between Tatworth Road and Forton Road, north of the Holbear estate.

RELATED: 200 new homes to be built in Chard as plans get approval

A bid for 315 homes to the south has also been submitted, but not approved. This is expected to come back before South Somerset District Council later this year.

Now, a new application to add 94 houses in between the two sites, which would completely surrounding the existing Holbear estate with new builds, has also been entered.

These are three seperate applications being brought forward by different developers.

PLANS: The three sites subject to major applications in Chard

In March, Taunton-based developers Summerfield Homes launched an online public consultation about their plans to build 94 homes on the edge of town.

Now, they have submitted an application for the site at Thorhild, Tatworth Road.

A spokesman for the firm said: “This full planning application proposes 94 dwellings on a site which is allocated for residential development.

“The proposed development will deliver housing on an allocated site where the principle of development has been established, in an area which has been under-delivering against its housing requirements over the plan period to date.

“It will contribute towards meeting an identified housing need, which is significant in light of the current lack of five year housing supply.

“It will also provide on-site affordable housing, which will assist in meeting the district’s affordable housing requirement.”

If all three applications are approved, the town’s southern border will see 609 more houses built, with no plans for a school or doctors surgery.

The latest site is set to have a range of homes, from one-bed apartments to four-bed houses. Some properties will be affordable units - expected to be 25 to 30 per cent.

A flood risk assessment has been developed by Awcock Ward Partnership, which was commissioned by Summerfield Developments.

The company’s report said: “As the development will be safe from flooding for its design life and will actively reduce flood risk to properties in the downstream catchment, it is recommended that the Lead Local Flood Authority advise the local planning authority that they have no objections to the proposed development.”

The new application site has an area of 3.05 hectares (7.5 acres) and is bordered to the west by A358 Tatworth Road.

Talking about the 94 home application, the Summerfield spokesman added: “A total of 234 car parking spaces are proposed and cycle parking is provided for all dwellings either within garages or secure cycle parking for properties without garages.

“It is clear from these assessments that there would be no significant adverse impacts arising from the application proposals.

“On the contrary, the proposed scheme will deliver much needed housing, including affordable housing.”