CONTROVERSIAL plans to add a football stadium and more than 400 homes to Chard’s northern border will be debated by councillors this week.

The homes are part of two separate applications - one for sports facilities and 295 homes, and a second bid to build 142 houses on an adjacent field.

South Somerset District Council’s area west committee has already seen these plans once, when a decision was deferred for more information.

The main sticking point was the planning officer’s picture of the site’s only access was taken from Google Maps, and more than a decade out of date.

The junction is from Thorndun Park Road, by Bartlett Park Garage, and will be the main access for the stadium, other pitches, and 295 homes.

If approved, the 142 home site will be accessed from Crimchard.

Following the discussions over the out-of-date photo from Thordun Park Drive, as well as other questions from councillors, Cllr Jason Baker proposed to ‘defer both these applications until we have the information needed to make a proper decision’ adding that they ‘didn’t feel the slides are up to date’.

Cllr Martin Wale, from the Blackdown and Tatworth ward, believed the two adjacent applications should be decided at the same time.

He added: “I think we should be considering the cumulative effect on the surrounding area when we are looking at these two sites.”

Councillors took legal advice, which said that they could consider them at the same time, but would also need to judge the two sites on their own merits.

The area west committee agreed unanimously to defer both applications.

The Mount Hindrance site was subject to a similar planning application in 2012, which included the sports facilities, 350 homes, and an access from Cuttiford’s Door.

This was refused, before an official appeal was also dismissed by the High Court.

The proposed stadium would provide a much sought-after new home for Chard Town FC.

The two applications will be discussed by SSDC’s area west committee at the Guildhall in Fore Street, Chard, today (Wednesday, December 11) at 5pm.