Relocation of veterinary practice among new Somerset planning applications

The relocation of a Highbridge veterinary practice, new homes near Bridgwater and enlarging a cricket pavilion are among the schemes people are trying to get planning permission for in Somerset. Every week, hundreds of planning applications are submitted to Somerset Council for determination – and we have selected some of the most interesting proposals.

Most plans will be decided by council planning officers, using their legally delegated powers, but some of the most significant or contentious will go before one of the council’s five planning committees. Planning committees are made up of elected councillors, but the decisions they make should be decided based on the council’s planning policies, not local politics.

Bennett Road, Highbridge

The Bridge Veterinary Surgery currently operates from its base on Worston Road, in a predominantly residential area in the northern part of Highbridge. The practice has applied to relocate its entire operation to a vacant business unit within the Works 22 site, located on Bennett Road within the wider Isleport Business Park.

The relocation will see all 17 existing members of staff transferred to the new base, with two further full-time positions being created. The new premises will include four consulting rooms for pre-booked appointments and a dog walking area to ensure pets are calm before they visit for consultations.

The surgery will be open from 8:30am to 6:30pm on weekdays and from 9am to noon on Saturdays, with an out-of-hours visiting service operating 24 hours a day. This new site lies within close walking or driving distance of the Isleport Grove housing development which is currently being constructed - making it easier for residents of the new homes to ensure their pets are fit and well.

Planning reference number: 11/24/00025

New Road, Chapel Allerton

Allerton Cricket Club was founded in 1884, though its current incarnation dates back to 1977 following a long period of "hibernation". The club, located roughly halfway between Cheddar and Highbridge, currently has a pavilion which was fashioned out of an old schoolroom in 1987.

Matt Paul, from the club's committee, has now applied to extend the existing pavilion to provide proper changing rooms for its men's and women's teams.

Planning reference number: 15/24/00003

Rhode Lane, Rhode

This brownfield site on the edge of the small village of Rhode was used as a construction yard by BCL Groundworks. Permission was previously granted by Sedgemoor District Council in late-2021 to build up to five homes on this site, but this development has stalled.

Wallbridge Estates Ltd. has now put forward a revised scheme to build the same number of homes - all of which will be within a short distance of the Wilstock and Stockmoor estates on the southern edge of Bridgwater.

Planning reference number: 37/24/00026

The Basins, Wellington

The Basins forms part of the green wedge between Wellington and Rockwell Green, and includes a number of allotments. Wellington Community Food, which has been based in the town since 2022, has applied to site a shipping container not far from Wellington Sports Centre, which is currently being upgraded using central government funding.

The container will be used to store farming equipment used by the community benefit society's members.

Planning reference number: 43/24/0036/AGN

Blacknell Lane, Crewkerne

Pilsdon Pen Ltd. has applied to build four new industrial units on Blacknell Lane at the eastern edge of Crewkerne. The new units lie a stone's throw from the Wool Gardens housing development, and can be accessed using the same entrance road leading to the town's household waste recycling centre.

This represents the second set of plans for new industrial units in the area in recent times, following the approval of four units mere yards to the south.

Planning reference number: 24/00639/FUL

To comment on any of these applications (and others), visit www.somerset.gov.uk/planning-buildings-and-land/view-and-comment-on-a-planning-application .