A MAJOR housing development on the edge of a Somerset town has been thrown out due to concerns about its “poor” design and lack of garden space.

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 (now christened Maple Grove), comprising 89 properties.

South Somerset District Council refused permission for this “cramped over-development” of the land  in January 2023, prompting the Exeter-based developer to revised plans for the entire development in June 2023.

But Somerset Council (which replaced the district council in April 2023) has now thrown out these proposal as well, citing “an unacceptable level of overlooking” and ongoing concerns on flooding.

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.

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

The new homes will be concentrated at the northern edge of the site, near the existing homes on Kithill, with the land tapering down to the railway line being preserved as public open space.

The development originally proposed 150 new homes, but this was reduced to 145 following discussions with the council’s planning officer.

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.

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 B3162 Forton Road in Chard and the Knights Meadow development on the A357 Slades Hill in Templecombe.

The plans were refused by the council’s planning officers through their delegated powers, rather than a public decision by the planning committee south.

The following reasons were provided for refusing permission:

The development has “poor place-making”, with the “uniformity” of the dwellings’ design creating “a lack of variation and visual interest”, with the layout being dominated by car parking and the proposed attenuation basins “compromising the functionality of the public open spaces as public”

The development has “a lack of adequately-sized private gardens” which will result “in an unacceptable level of overlooking and associated loss of privacy”

The developer has provided “insufficient information” that the attenuation ponds can handle water generated by the new homes or local rainfall, which could lead to flooding near the railway line

The developer has not provided enough details on how the increase in phosphate levels from the new homes would be offset, ensuring the Somerset Levels and Moors are protected

Crewkerne is set to expand rapidly in the coming years, with multiple sites on its southern and eastern edges being at various stage of development.

In addition to the Maple Grove site, Taylor Wimpey is currently constructing the first phase of the Wool Gardens development, which will eventually deliver 635 new homes (along with commercial space and a care home) on the Crewkerne Key Site, between the A30 Yeovil Road and the A356 Station Road.

Place Land LLP has teased proposals for up to 300 further homes on the western side of Station Road, as well as local shops and more car parking for Crewkerne railway station – but a formal planning application has yet to be submitted.

Tilia Homes has not yet indicated whether it intends to appeal the council’s decision.