Dozens of residents have attended a public consultation session to air their concerns over controversial plans for 250 new homes alongside Isleport Lane in Highbridge.
Over 60 residents attended the public consultation meeting organised by Bickenhall Consulting, acting on behalf of the developers.
It’s proposed to build approximately 250 new homes at the site between Isleport lane and the M5 motorway. The development will comprise of one, two, three and four bedroom homes which will be two to three storeys high.
Spokesman Gary Squires told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We had a lot more visitors come along to the session than expected, and a number of points were raised.”
“Residents are concerned about traffic congestion and access, plus public services, and noise from the M5 affecting the homes, but there was a mixture of positive and negative comments.”
He added: “The fact that 30% of properties at this site will be affordable homes has been welcomed by residents.”
Residents also welcomed plans for a new play area, a community hub with the potential for a local shop, plus new public open spaces.
Discussing the project timescales, he told us: “We are planning to get our planning application submitted before Christmas, and then we hope to begin building next year if the plans get approved.”
Sedgemoor District Council has identified a need to build 13,530 homes in the district between 2011 and 2032.
But when Sedgemoor’s local plan was debated by town councillors last year, Highbridge councillors said the town “is being over-developed to the hilt.”
Many Highbridge residents have told local councillors that the town urgently needs improved public services such as a new school, GP surgery and dentist, before hundreds of new homes are built in the town.
The proposals for Isleport in Highbridge are now available online here.
