Plans for 130 new homes in Henstridge approved

Gladman Developments was granted permission on appeal in November 2018 to build new homes on Woodhayes Way in Henstridge, before selling the site to fellow developer Barratt David Wilson Homes.

South Somerset District Council’s area east committee refused revised plans for the site in April, claiming there was not enough provision for new cars and the homes would increase existing traffic problems.

But the council’s regulation committee – which makes the final ruling on major planning applications – has now overturned this decision, meaning the homes can be built after all.

The site (which has been dubbed ‘Yenston Landings’) lies to the south of existing residential properties on Woodhayes Way, near the busy A357 and just north of the Somerset-Dorset border along Landshire Lane.

Under the new proposals, access will be created on Woodhayes Way between the two existing junctions with Townsend Green.

Of the 130 homes proposed, 46 will be affordable – meeting the council’s target that 35 per cent of any new homes in a development of ten dwellings or more should be affordable.

Ken Courtenay, chairman of Henstridge Parish Council, was one of several local residents who objected to the plans at the regulation committee’s virtual meeting held on Tuesday morning (May 17).

He said: “This development is being imposed on us, mainly because of the failure of the five-year land supply. The development actually brings no overall benefit to the village.

“The lack of parking has been a problem in our village for some time. This development will impose additional strain on parking space in the south of the village, and the result will be spill-over into the surrounding streets.”

Paul Dimishky, a member of the A357 Group, said the plans were a case of “putting the cart before the horse”.

He added: “We are a small village, and over the years planners have consistently let the village down as far as parking is concerned. There is an overspill already in Woodhayes Way, particularly at the point where the access road of this is.

“The changes provide no additional parking and instead deprive homeowners of much-needed storage. The only solution is to reduce the number of houses. The developers are taking councillors for fools.”

Peter Thompson criticised the council for “jiggery pokery”, arguing the decision should have been taken at a physical meeting rather than virtually.

He went on to say: “130 houses will produce 390 cars, plus all the internet delivery traffic growing by the year. It’s going to be absolute pandemonium in the village.

“It is a case of saving the village. We have to limit the scale of the numbers.”

Since the April refusal, the developer has made changes to the planned layout to provide an additional seven parking spaces, bringing the total to 349 – an average of 2.68 per household, including visitors’ parking.

But Councillor William Wallace – whose Blackmoor Vale ward included the site – said he was not swayed by the changes.

He said: “Although I appreciate the car ports and the extra spaces, you’ve heard the local knowledge – there will still be problems with parking. It is still not enough.”

Councillor Tony Lock responded that there were no sound reasons in planning law to refuse the development, stating: “I appreciate local members’ views, but we have to make your decision on planning policy, not on what we would like.”

After around an hour’s debate, the committee voted to overturn the area east committee’s decision and approve the plans by a margin of five votes to two (with one councillor being absent due to technical difficulties).