Greenslade Taylor Hunt invites Chard locals to have say on 67 homes

Greenslade Taylor Hunt has sent leaflets to Chard residents, inviting them to take part in an online consultation on proposals for up to 67 new homes between the A358 Furnham Road and Chaffcombe Lane.

The plans will involve demolishing the current buildings at Welcome Home Farm to deliver the development – with space being left for the northernmost section of the long-planned eastern relief road (ERR).

A formal planning application, taking residents’ feedback into consideration, is expected to be submitted by the unidentified developer by the end of the year.

The site, which is allocated within the South Somerset Local Plan, lies to the north of the proposed site of a new 66-bed care home, which would have its separate access onto Furnham Road.

The care home proposals – brought forward by LNT Developments in March 2022 – are one of more than 50 developments within the former South Somerset area which have been held up by the ongoing phosphates crisis.

A spokesman for Greenslade Taylor Hunt said: “Work is ongoing with specialist consultants and has resulted in an indicative site plan that places a focus on green infrastructure and biodiversity throughout the site.

“This work has led to varied densities of development to ensure the requisite biodiversity net gain will be deliverable and will respond effectively to the character of the area and wider landscape.”

As part of the Welcome Home Farm proposal, a small strip of land between the care homes and the new houses will be left, allowing for a new section of the ERR to link up with any upgrade to Touches Lane.

Access to the new homes will be from Furnham Road, with a pedestrian and cycle path leading out of the south-west corner to link up with Touches Lane and the Stop Line Way, which leads south towards the town centre or north towards Chard Reservoir, Donyatt and Ilminster.

A spokesman said: “The site will create the opportunity for a link road connection to be made between the A358 and Forton Road, should the council remain committed to this infrastructure provision.

“The site will not prejudice the delivery of the remainder of the Council’s allocation.”

Under the initial proposals, 35 per cent of the homes will be affordable (the equivalent of 23 properties) – and of these, 25 per cent will be discounted ‘first homes’ (six properties).

The site will also include public open space, play facilities and an attenuation pond at the southern edge to reduce the risk of localised flooding.

Since much of the site lies below the level of Furnham Road, it is possible the site will have to be raised to further reduce the flood risk – something which may impact the ability to deliver affordable housing further down the line.

Greenslade Taylor Hunt said its client wishes to “retain and enhance” as much of the existing hedges as possible, and create new areas of tree planting throughout the development.

It has also promised to make “a number of off-site contributions”, such as funding improvements to local schools, health and leisure facilities or play areas.

Chard’s northern edge has seen significant interest from housing developers as efforts to bring forward the designated growth within the Chard eastern development area (CEDA) have faltered.

Barratt Homes is currently constructing the Blackdown Heights development, comprising 142 homes on Crimchard, a stone’s throw from Redstart Primary School.

A further 295 homes and a new stadium for Chard Town FC are planned for the land between Crimchard and Thorndun Park Drive; however, the application will need to be redetermined by the council due to the legal issues surrounding phosphate mitigation.

To take part in the consultation, visit www.gthdevelopment.wixsite.com/welcome-home or email your thoughts to landplanning.taunton@gth.net.