Tilia Homes' plans for 89 homes in Crewkerne refused

James Tizzard of Land Value Alliances LLP secured outline planning permission on appeal in July 2020 to build up to 150 homes on land between Kithill and the railway line at the southern edge of Crewkerne.

Tilia Homes Ltd., to whom the land was sold, put forward detailed proposals in July 2022 for the first phase of the new development, comprising 89 properties.

But South Somerset District Council has refused permission for this first phase, arguing the plans will result in “cramped over-development” with unsafe play areas.

The site lies north of the railway line and a short distance from Cathole Bridge Road – which forms part of a rat run between the railway station and the A30 to Chard, and has been branded a “death trap” by district councillors.

Access to the new homes would be from Lang Road, with a new junction being created opposite the existing access to Manor Road.

Access to the new homes would have been from Lang Road. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

The existing public footpaths between Lang Road and the A356 Station Road will be maintained, providing the new residents with a direct pedestrian link to the railway station, which has hourly services to Yeovil and Axminster.

Of the 89 homes planned within the development – on what has been dubbed the Kithill site – 18 would have been affordable, far below the council’s 30 per cent target for any new development of ten homes or more.

The council refused the plans through the dedicated power of its planning officers, rather than a public decision by its area west committee.

Kirsty Larkins, the council’s director for service delivery, laid out five reasons for the plans’ refusal:

• The planned density, layout and scale of the homes would “result in cramped over-development” which does not “adequately integrate” with the character of the local are
• The development would have “a detrimental impact on the occupiers of existing residential properties”, with the “overbearing” new properties overlooking the existing homes resulting in a loss of privacy
• The “awkward” open spaces proposed within the development have “little natural surveillance” and are not well-connected to the homes, putting the well-being of residents at risk
• The applicant has provided “insufficient information” about the design and capacity of the new attenuation basin – raising concerns that the railway line could be flooded if it does not discharge water at an appropriate rate
• The developer has not demonstrated how the new homes will not “adversely affect the integrity of the Somerset Levels and Moors” by addressing any potential increase in phosphates from the new homes

Crewkerne Town Council was among the statutory consultees who objected to the plans, arguing the town’s infrastructure could not cope with further homes on top of the Wool Gardens development being delivered by Taylor Wimpey on the Crewkerne Key Site.

Land Value Alliances LLP secured outline planning permission for 150 homes in July 2020 - but details proposals for the first phase have been turned down. (Image: Daniel Mumby)

Town clerk Katherine Sheehan said: “The town has a shortage of GPs, and the current surgery cannot manage patients from an additional 150 homes.

“The town’s roads are very busy, especially Kithill and Cathole Bridge Road. The traffic survey to which the developer referred was undertaken during the covid lockdown and was not therefore a true picture of vehicles using those roads.

“The school system in Crewkerne has recently moved from a three-tier system to a two-tier system, and it was not yet apparent what effect this will have on existing children in the town and surrounding areas.

“There are not enough two- and three-bedroom social houses allocated in the first phase; they are too small and do not meet the council’s requirements.”

Tilia Homes recently completed work on the Bunford Heights site on the A30 West Coker Road in Yeovil, and is currently constructing both the Snowdon Grange development on the A358 Tatworth Road in Chard and the Knights Meadow development on the A357 Slades Hill in Templecombe.

The Solihull-based developer has not yet indicated whether it intends to appeal the council’s ruling.