Controversial proposals to build more than 100 new homes on land next to Highbridge’s Asda supermarket were given a cool welcome when councillors saw the plans for the first time on Monday night (December 3rd).
Jonathan Layzell, Regional Development Manager for developer Raglan Homes, and his staff (pictured) unveiled their proposals to construct 58 new houses and 60 flats on land at Springfield Road.
But the development was not welcomed by all councillors, with several saying that more flats are not needed in the town and that the high-density would not help to build a community.
But Mr Layzell said: “We’re keen to avoid the solid blocks of flats seen elsewhere in Highbridge – flats would be usually be built on scarce areas of development land like this because they are where the profits lie, but we’re here for the long haul – we want to create something that Highbridge will be proud of.”
“This is a very visible gateway site for the town and our preferred option is for a contemporary-designed development of houses and flats that will also be eco-friendly.”
But town councillor John Morgan said he believes the proposals are “dangerous” because of the high density of the properties. The 3.7 acre site would have 180 ‘property units’.
He questioned: “How do people mix in densely packed developments like this? We want houses where people feel part of a community – not isolated in little rooms tightly packed together.”
Mr Layzell responded by saying the proposed new properties would back onto communal courtyards where residents would “develop a real sense of community.”
Pointing to a lack of childrens’ play areas and other community facilities at the site, Cllr Ken Smout said: “We want far more community benefits in developments like these.”
And Cllr Mike Mansfield added his concerns about the plans, saying additional traffic would be generated by the site. “The extra cars would not help the bottlenecks around in that area,” he said.
But Mr Layzell said comments from Somerset County Council’s Highways Department had been fully considered in its design.
A total of £100,000 is being given by Sedgemoor District Council to the developers of the site to help with the costs of creating more local affordable housing in the Highbridge area.
