Controversial plans for 49 new homes in Berrow have been rejected by Somerset Council this week after it called the scheme ‘intrusive’ and raised concerns over flooding and drainage.
As Burnham-On-Sea.com reported here, the developer Notaro wanted to build the new houses, to include 20 affordable homes, close to the existing estate on Cavalla Mews, on a proposed 3.6 hectare site.
However, Somerset Council has this week rejected the application on the grounds that it would not comply with its planning policy by being to “the detriment of the character and that of the surrounding rural landscape.”
The council adds that the scheme “would result in a visually dominant and intrusive form of development to the detriment of the character of this edge-of-settlement location and the surrounding rural landscape.”
Flood risks, drainage concerns and insufficient ecological information also are cited in Somerset Council’s reasons to reject the application.
The decision is this week being welcomed by opponents of the scheme who raised a number of concerns. It comes after more than 30 villagers attended a public meeting organised by the Parish Council in November to air their views. A vote by Berrow parish councillors saw unanimously vote to object against the plans.
Notaro may lodge an appeal against Somerset Council’s decision or amend its plans to try and address the concerns.
5 reasons why Somerset Council rejected the application:
- “The proposed development, by reason of its form and layout, with development projecting into open countryside beyond the established pattern of development, would result in a pattern and form of development that does not positively respond to the existing layout and pattern of the settlement to the detriment of its character and that of the surrounding rural landscape.”
- “The proposal, by reason of the height of the buildings proposed and the significant raising of land levels to achieve the finished floor levels necessary to mitigate the risk of flooding to future occupiers, would result in a visually dominant and intrusive form of development to the detriment of its the character of this edge of settlement location and the surrounding rural landscape.”
- “Insufficient ecological information has been provided in order to fully determine the presence or otherwise of protected species and the extent to which they will be affected by the proposed development. Furthermore, it has not been adequately demonstrated that acceptable mitigation and biodiversity enhancement measures can be provided within land subject to the application.”
- “It has not been adequately demonstrated that the Exceptions Test in respect of flood risk has been passed, nor that the development would be safe from flood risk for its lifetime.”
- “Inadequate information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposed drainage strategy is acceptable and sufficient to appropriately manage surface water and not result in increased risk of flooding elsewhere.”
