Controversial plans for a major housing development on a former waste landfill site in Burnham-On-Sea look set to be approved next week despite more than 40 objections from nearby residents.
Persimmon Homes’ plans for 48 new homes to the west of Lawrence Close and north of Wallace Wells Road on the Rosewood Farm estate have been recommended for approval by a Sedgemoor District Council planning officer.
It comes ahead of a meeting of district councillors next Tuesday to decide whether the scheme is finally granted permission after two previous failed bids in 2009 and 2010, which delighted campaigning residents, as pictured below.
A total of 44 residents have written letters of objection to the district council over the plans, and both Burnham Without Parish Council and Burnham and Highbridge Town Council have lodged written objections.
A range of concerns have been aired, such as over-development, ‘out of keeping’ homes and loss of privacy.
Planning officer Chris Gomm has recommended the scheme is granted permission at Tuesday’s development control committee meeting in Bridgwater. In a report, he has written: “The development, if approved and constructed, will be beneficial to the character and appearance of the surrounding development and will ensure that a poorly maintained committed residential site is replaced by well-designed, quality urban form.”
Ward councillor Chris Williams, pictured below, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Whilst I welcome the reduction in the overall number of houses on this site as compared with those of the original application, and am pleased that the drainage issues now seem to have been agreed with the Axe-Brue Drainage Board, I still have a couple of issues that I need to highlight.”
“I am concerned that despite provision of turning bays in the site area accessed off Wallace Wells road, these have to be permanently kept clear of parked cars. At another nearby site – Mayflower Court – parking in turning bays is the norm meaning that the Waste Disposal lorries have to reverse in, collect, and drive out, rather than drive in, collect, and drive out. This is inherently dangerous.”
He added: “I think it essential that as many of the mature trees on the frontage of Lawrence Way and Wallace Wells Road are retained. As can be seen from the rear of the Mulholland Park site replanting has by no means been as successful as hoped.”
“Finally, I trust that a construction condition, although unusual, can be considered. Construction should start at the Frank Foley end of Lawrence Way and proceed back to the junction of Wallace Wells Road. This will ensure that the developers will be able to ensure that during construction they will have adequate parking room for their vehicles on their own land and not impede the existing highway and complicate residential parking.”
