Plans for 2,000 homes in Sedgemoor could be approved in the next few months

The coronavirus has made it difficult for planning decisions to be taken in public through committees – which in turn has made its harder for residents to make their voices heard.

Following recent guidance from central government, planning committees will still be able to meet virtually – either to make decisions themselves or to make a recommendation to the chief executive, who will formally make the decision.

With the government determined that as many functions of local government carry on as normal during the crisis, there are numerous applications for large or decent-sized developments across the district which could be approved before the meeting restrictions are lifted.

Here are ten major developments which could be approved while the current emergency measures are in place:

A39 Quantock Road in Bridgwater (675 homes, commercial units and primary school): these plans by Cavanna Homes comprise two distinct parts: full plans for 238 homes near the A39, and outline plans for a further 437 properties further north (with the fine details on the latter being brought forward at a later date). The council’s planning committee was due to vote on these plans in November 2019, but they were withdrawn pending further information. The proposed primary school will be constructed at the western end of the site, a short distance from the main road

A39 Quantock Road in Bridgwater (353 homes): as with the previous plans, these proposals by Persimmon Homes Severn Valley are split into two parts: full plans for 113 homes, and outline plans for a further 240 properties. The site lies on the southern side of the A39, immediately to the west of the Quantock Road Cemetery and immediately opposite the Cavanna Homes site. If approval is granted, the homes at the eastern end will be constructed first

B3141 Woolavington Hill in Woolavington (175 homes): the first of three proposed developments in the village of Woolavington lies at the village’s southern edge, not far from the Fairways holiday park. If approved, Wainhomes Severn Valley will build out the site in two stages, beginning with 100 homes to the east. A new community orchard and allotments will also be provided at the north of the development area

Oak Tree Way in Cannington (165 homes): the first of four proposals put forward by Gladman Developments on this list concerns the land between Oak Tree Way and Cannington’s Hinkley Point C park and ride facility. Access will be from Oak Tree Way rather than the busy A39, with green buffers being provided along the main road and a large amount of communal green space being allocated along the northern edge of the site

Cossington Lane in Woolavington (125 homes): this development, also put forward by Gladman, would see 125 homes built behind the village’s Co-operative Food outlet. Pedestrian access would be maintained from the B3141 Woolavington Hill, with a new vehicle access from Cossington Lane itself. If approval is granted, improvements will be carried out to the nearby junction between the B3141 and the A39 Bath Road

B3151 Lower New Road in Cheddar (115 homes): these proposals, put forward by Gladman Developments, would see large amounts of green space retained at the site’s western edge, with the homes lining a new access onto the B3151. The site lies opposite the contentious Steart Farm development site, where Sainsbury’s put forward plans for a further 60 homes (which the council refused in March)

Cannington Road in Nether Stowey (109 homes): these plans by Strongvox Homes entail the redevelopment of Cricketer Farm on the eastern edge of the village. The site, near the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is separated from the rest of Nether Stowey by the busy A39, used by HGVs travelling between Bridgwater and the Hinkley Point C construction site. A new roundabout will be constructed to create a safer access to the site and St Mary’s Street into the village if the plans are approved

Woolavington Road in Woolavington (95 homes): the third and final of the  proposed Woolavington developments is located at the western edge of the village, opposite the doctor’s surgery and just east of the local vets. The site lies very close to the Gravity enterprise park between Woolavington and the neighbouring village of Puriton, which will eventually be home to up to 150 business and 4,000 workers. Gladman Developments put the plans forward in May 2019, shortly before work began on the access road to the Gravity site

Kings Road in Bridgwater (57 homes and retail units): Hallam Land Management (which is based in Bristol) submitted plans for this site near the Morrisons distribution centre back in January 2019. In addition to 57 homes for the site, up to 450 sq m of retail space will be provided at the south-eastern corner of the site, including a convenience store. Access will be provided just north of the existing roundabout

Lympsham Road in Lympsham (50 homes): Strongvox Homes has put forward these plans for the Beavers Lodge Farm site in Lympsham, at the northern tip of the district. The proposed development is located a short distance from the A370 Bridgwater Road, leading to Weston-super-Mare, and will include 20 “local needs affordable homes” – a higher percentage than the council normally expects from a commercially-led development

B3139 Walrow in Highbridge (46 homes): the council originally turned down plans for this site in March 2019, arguing the design was “out of character” for Highbridge. The developer, Flower and Hayes Ltd, lost its appeal against the council’s decision in October the same year. Now the company has put forward amended plans for the same site, with the homes being built to the east of the railway line with pedestrian access to Highbridge and Burnham railway station

Old Bristol Road in East Brent (40 homes): this development at the eastern end of this village near Highbridge is bordered by existing development and the Brock’s Pill Rhyne. Under the proposals put forward by East Brent LVA LLP, a large area of green space will be retained at the north-eastern end of the site to provide a green buffer between the new homes and the busy A38 Bristol Road, which connects the village to the M5 at Junction 22

A38 Taunton Road in North Petherton (39 homes): this site has been occupied by the family-run Carrott’s Farm Shop for the last 36 years. Current owner Tony Carrott told the Bridgwater Mercury on February 11 that he was planning to retire, and the shop would close once planning permission was granted for this development. The new homes will back onto the existing cemetery to the west, with the existing access onto the A38 being maintained

Hamp Bridge in Bridgwater (36 homes and one office): this site was until recently the home of Somerset Bridge Primary School, which is now located on Stockmoor Drive. The vacant site and former school buildings were badly damaged by a fire in September 2019. This brownfield redevelopment by 3C Commercial Ltd will see the buildings and playing fields turned into 36 homes, with an office being created at the western edge and two play areas.