Homes to be bulldozed to build more in town 'under siege' from developers

Two homes in Midsomer Norton can be knocked down so that 54 homes can be built on the field behind them — despite the local council refusing to grant permission for the “deeply worrying” plan.

The planning inspectorate has ruled on appeal that 26 and 28 Orchard Vale in Midsomer Norton can be demolished so that housing association Curo can build a road through them to the field behind. The ruling overturns Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES)’s decision to block the plan and ends a more than two year long planning battle between Curo, two neighbouring councils, and the town “under siege” in the middle.

Local councillor and a member of B&NES’ planning committee, Shaun Hughes (Midsomer Norton North, Independent), said: “This is extremely disappointing and I am frustrated with Curo’s approach, bulldozing this though without any support or concern for our community.”

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The people who live in the two homes, which are owned by Curo, will be “fully supported” to move into a new home in an area of their choice and receive a “‘home loss’ payment,” the housing association has said.It has also said it will not seek to recover legal costs from the council.

Curo had been granted planning permission by Somerset Council in May to build 54 homes on a field right on the edge of its council area — but the homes that would need to be demolished lie just on the other side of the council boundary in B&NES, where the planning committee voted in June to block the plan. Eleanor Jackson (Westfield, Labour) called the plans “deeply worrying” at the meeting, warning: “At a time of climate emergency we shouldn’t be demolishing houses unnecessarily.”

The housing association appealed the decision to the Planning Inspectorate, calling B&NES’ decision “irrational and unlawful.” Now planning inspector Jonathan Parsons has decided that the development should go ahead. Mr Parsons said: “There have been significant public objections relating to the scheme. However, the part of the scheme before me is small-scale in nature.”

Chief executive of Curo, Victor da Cunha, said: “We’re grateful to the Planning Inspectorate for recognising the importance of this development and for granting permission to proceed.

“We recognise the complexities involved in reaching this point, including the need to provide access through the demolition of two properties on Orchard Vale. While this was a difficult decision, it was necessary to unlock the potential of this site and address the pressing need for housing across Somerset.

“Despite the challenges faced, including a lengthy appeal process, we’ve chosen not to pursue costs associated with this appeal, as our priority is ensuring we can focus on delivering the homes and infrastructure local families so desperately need. With over 2,000 households in former Mendip district area alone on the affordable housing waiting list, this development represents a vital step forward.”

The development will create 16 affordable homes, three of which will be shared ownership and the rest social rent, but most of these will go to people on Somerset Council ’s housing list — not people from Midsomer Norton waiting for housing, because they are on B&NES’ housing list.

Two “larger, high-quality homes” built on the development will be allocated to B&NES for social housing to make up for the two demolished. Another two social homes could also be allocated to B&NES “contingent upon grant funding availability.”

The 54 homes on the “Underhill Farm” development will be a mix of one and two bedroom apartments and two to four bedroom houses. The homes will have air source heat pumps and solar panels.

It is one of an increasing number of planning applications right next to Midsomer Norton on the Somerset Council side of the council boundary, meaning that councillors elected by the people in the town do not have a vote.

One of the 142 locals who had objected to the plans, Sue Ross, had warned: “ Our town is under siege, threatened on several sides by multiple applications to build on the Somerset/B&NES border — extra homes that will sap our already stretched amenities whilst their council tax goes elsewhere.”

Recently, another plan has been drawn up by another developer to build more homes on the Somerset Council side of the council boundary next to Midsomer Norton. Developers Barratt David Wilson Homes want to build 330 homes just north of Tunnel Lane to the south of the town — although the plans are not at the planning application stage yet.