Firm accused of 'speculative' development over Chard housing site

The Crossman Group secured planning permission on appeal to build up to 95 homes on the B3167 Perry Street in Chard in March, despite considerable opposition from Somerset Council and local residents.

The site – which lies at the southern edge of the village – was subsequently put on the market, being advertised by Greenslade Taylor Hunt for an undisclosed sum.

Tatworth and Forton Parish Council has strongly criticised the developer’s decision to do this, attacking the uncertainty this has caused for the community and questioning the company’s motives.

The Crossman Group has said it has received considerable interest in the site and was confident that the new development would be delivered soon.

The plans for the 95 homes. (Image: Angus Meek Architects)

Parish clerk Nigel Tinley issued a statement on this matter to the Local Democracy Reporting Service which had been signed off by the parish council.

He said: “Whether you think we need a lot more houses in this area, or perhaps a more modest number, there’s one thing on which we can probably all agree.

“There is nothing whatsoever to be said for a supposed developer securing outline permission to build 95 houses – and then not building them at all. 

“This is what has happened in Tatworth.

“A would-be developer applied to build 95 houses on agricultural land at the edge of the village.

“The plan was opposed by the majority of local residents, the parish council and Somerset Council on various grounds.

“These include that perfectly good agricultural land would be consumed while wasteland lies idle, there are drainage and flooding issues, the access road is narrow and unsuitable, and local services are not coping as it is.”

While the initial proposals indicated an access road leading from the northern end of Perry Street, the amended plans instead has the main access being from the south-western corner, near the existing junction with School Lane.

The current bus stop near the School Lane junction will be moved a few yards down the road, with pedestrian and cycling access being provided at both the northern and southern ends of the site.

The Crossman Group has accepted an offer for the development site, “thereby facilitating the delivery of much needed affordable homes”. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

The new homes will range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses – and of the 95 homes planned within the site, 33 will be affordable as part of the finalised legal agreements with Somerset Council.

As part of the plans, the developer has promised to provide more than £894,000 for local education – including nearly £334,000 to ensure sufficient capacity at Holyrood Academy and more than £502,000 towards a future primary school within Chard.

Mr Tinley said the decision to put the site on the market was insulting to both residents which had fought against these specific plans and the notion that more affordable homes were needed in the local area.

He said: “People living in the immediate vicinity devoted a lot of time and energy into contesting this plan.

“What was farmland on their doorstep was about to be turned into a building site. But now it isn’t – or at least, not yet.

“The village has no idea who will buy the land, if anyone, when anything will take place, or indeed what will actually take place. Try getting a good price on your house if you’re living near to this.

“If a village like Tatworth is really in need of yet another development of pretty much identikit houses (regardless of the number being built up the road in Chard), this need is now not being met.

“Either we need them urgently or we don’t – and if we don’t, why was planning permission ever granted?”

Mr Tinley added that Crossman selling the site on could drive up the eventual prices of any new homes, leading to those with local need “paying over the odds so the initial non-developer can make a tidy profit.”

He elaborated: “The sort of practice we’ve seen here serves no social benefit whatsoever – there is no ‘value added’ to the houses eventually built.

“Going forward, surely councils and planners should be on the look-out for this kind of speculative application.”

The Crossman Group said it had received significant interest since putting the site on the market and was confident the new homes would be delivered in the near-future.

A spokesman said: “We are an award-winning developer and land promoter, with land interests across south-west England.

“After successfully obtaining planning permission for this residential development, the development site was advertised for sale.

“Given the urgent need for housing across Somerset, the marketing campaign attracted significant interest.

“We have now accepted an offer for the development site, thereby facilitating the delivery of much needed affordable homes in the local area.

“The development is expected to be brought forward in the very near future.”