Major plans to build 105 new homes in Highbridge have moved a step closer this week with the approval of an outline planning application.
Permission was granted on Tuesday (November 26th) for the development of the former Delta Engineering factory site in Newtown Road, pictured right.
Sedgemoor District Council’s Development Control Committee gave the go-ahead to Gaia Partnership and Wessex Water’s outline application for 105 homes.
Among the conditions will be a developer contribution of £300,000, with £100,000 earmarked for flood defences and £200,000 for education provision.
Councillors also requested that the properties must not be higher than the three storeys in the current plans.
The decision came despite 11 letters of objection from nearby residents who expressed concern over inadequate infrastructure, increased traffic and more flats.
The concerns were supported by Cllr Ken Smout, who told Tuesday’s meeting: “We already have four major developments in that area and we have no infrastructure in place to accommodate this. We have a problem now – not in five years when this development could be built.”
“Highbridge is already over-developed and this is the third Brownfield site we are building on.”
But Matthew Macan, who spoke on behalf of the applicants, told the meeting that the application is important for the regeneration of the site.
The development is located close to Highbridge’s Clyce boatyard site, where planning permission has already been separately given for another development of 85 homes. A further 400 homes could also be built on the nearby Brue Farm site.
