Proposals for over 1,300 new homes to be built on fields north of Burnham-On-Sea’s Stoddens Road are ‘unlikely to proceed for at least 15 years’, it has emerged this week.

At a district council meeting on Wednesday (January 17th) to review the local new housing needs as part of Sedgemoor’s Local Plan, a number of concerns were raised about developing the two north Burnham sites, shown on the map above.

In 2015, we reported here that Sedgemoor District Council had identified land north of Stoddens Road as a possible area for new housing. It said 300 homes could be built in the area marked D, and a further 1,000 new homes could be built on land stretching up to Brent Road, marked E.

But the Environment Agency told Wednesday’s meeting that it has concerns about flooding on the low-lying land.

Town councillor Phil Harvey, pictured, who attended the meeting, said: “Evidence was taken from Sedgemoor officers, the Environment Agency and highway agency and a consultant representing the owner of land north of Stoddens Road.”

“That is a so-called ‘omission site’- one included in the list of available sites but not chosen in the Loca Plan itself for development.”

“The Inspector considered each site under a variety of headings such as ecology, sustainability, viability etc – about 12 categories in all.”

“The Highways Agency will require works to increase capacity, regardless of whichever schemes go ahead.”

“The Environment Agency said they would oppose the Stoddens Lane development as no work has been done on dealing with the risks of flooding in this area and they have no plans or funds to do any in the foreseeable future.”

He added: “The planning inspector said new sites like the one north of Stoddens Road would only be considered if the sites already in the plan cannot be delivered within the plan period which runs until 2032,” he added.

“I think it is very unlikely that the land north of Stoddens Road will be developed, however it is the planning inspector who will have the final say.”

The two housing sites identified for new housing in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge that are included in the Local Plan are Brue Farm ‘phase 2’ and a separate development off Isleport Lane.

 
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