A planning application for up to 750 new homes on land east of Bower Lane is due to be considered by Somerset Council's Planning Committee. As the local Somerset Councillor for Bridgwater East and Bawdrip, I have objected to the application because I believe it asks residents to accept hundreds of new homes while watering down many of the community benefits that should accompany a development of this scale.
Affordable Housing Falling Short
My biggest concern is the complete failure to provide the affordable housing our community so desperately needs.
Somerset Council's own Housing Development Strategy, adopted only weeks ago, recognises that more than 12,500 households are currently waiting for an affordable home and makes clear that increasing the supply of affordable housing is one of the Council's highest priorities.
Yet the developer has argued that the scheme is not financially viable if it provides the level of affordable housing required by planning policy. As a result, this development proposes up to 750 homes, with just 5% affordable housing, despite the Local Plan requiring 30%. That simply cannot be right at a time when thousands of Somerset families are crying out for somewhere affordable to live.
Schools Left Behind
I am also disappointed that the education contributions previously requested by Somerset Council's own Education Service have effectively disappeared from this application.
Somerset Council's Education Service originally assessed the application and concluded that around £7.8 million should be secured towards early years and primary education because of the number of children this development is expected to generate. While officers have since advised that capacity may be available elsewhere in Bridgwater and the financial contribution is no longer being pursued, I simply do not believe that expecting children from a major new community in East Bridgwater to travel across town for school is the right approach. That is neither sensible planning nor the way to build a sustainable community.
This development will be home to hundreds of children, yet the infrastructure to educate them is simply being kicked down the road.
No Additional Support for Local GP Services
Healthcare is another major concern.
The NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board advised that local GP surgeries are already operating beyond their designed capacity and requested more than £416,000 to help fund additional healthcare provision for the new residents this development will bring. That contribution has also been sidelined because of developer viability.
It is simply unacceptable to approve up to 750 homes, housing well over 1,500 new residents, without securing additional support for local healthcare. What is the point of building homes for families if they cannot access a GP? Residents already struggle to get an appointment, and this will only make that situation worse.
Where Will Children Play?
I am also frustrated that this development fails to provide suitable play areas. Planning policy expects developments of more than 500 homes to provide a Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play, a larger play facility designed for older children and young teenagers. Despite this development proposing up to 750 homes, no on-site NEAP is being provided.
That is not good enough. New communities should have suitable facilities for families and children within the neighbourhood they live in, not be expected to walk elsewhere because they were left out of the plans.
Roads Already Under Pressure
Finally, I remain unconvinced that the proposed highway mitigation goes far enough.
While the developer is making contributions towards highway improvements, I have little confidence that they are sufficient to deal with the cumulative impact of thousands of new homes being built across Bridgwater. Residents already experience congestion every day, and I do not believe the existing road network can cope with the additional traffic this level of development will generate.
People aren't worried because they oppose new homes, they're worried because they already sit in the traffic every single day.
This Isn't the Right Scheme
The developer says they can't afford the affordable homes, the school funding, the play area or the GP contribution. My answer is simple, then this isn't the right scheme.
