120 homes bid for fields off Durleigh Road, Bridgwater

5:20pm Monday 17th September 2012 in Bridgwater Area News

Joe Notaro said the plan which was previously snubbed would have netted Bridgwater £5million Joe Notaro said the plan which was previously snubbed would have netted Bridgwater £5million

A BID has been made for 120 homes on fields next to where a massively controversial housing development was rejected last month.

The Mercury reported in August on the fall-out from Sedgemoor District Council's decision to snub plans for 187 homes south of Haygrove Farm.

Developer Joe Notaro said the scheme would have netted the area £5million towards school places, play facilities and The Meads eco-park, while opponents argued it would have clogged roads and swallowed up more green space.

Now Summerfield Developments has come forward with a separate scheme, on fields just to the east of where Mr Notaro and joint developer David Wilson Homes hoped to build. 

In a supporting statement for the Summerfield scheme, architects Angus Meek say: “Whilst the site is separately accessed and independent from this (Notaro/David Wilson Homes) application site it offers the opportunity to establish a congruous development strategy of the Eco Park edge with the ability to provide surveillance and improved pedestrian and cycle links.”

Angus Meek also acknowledge that at an earlier consultation event, some people living in the area said brownfield sites should be built on before greenfield sites, a view the district council shared when rejecting the 187-home scheme in August.

Details passed to the council also show most of the homes would be three or four-bedroom, and 36 would be social housing.

Comments(5)

Ka7e says...
4:39pm Tue 18 Sep 12

I believe that there are plans to build a road through St Matthews Field (Fair Field) to give access to housing developments and the proposed Eco-park.
The Council deny that they are linked, but admit they can't entirely finance the Eco-park without extra cash from somewhere. I reckon this development will be allowed, enabling them to get the developers to fund a road that will be promoted as "access to the Eco-park". The Council also claim the road will be used by allotment holders, although they already have access from St Matthews Green!
Each year a little bit more green space is sacrificed. Victoria Park, Whitegates, Wembdon Common, Cranleigh Gardens have all lost ground. Now the Brewery Field and Fair Field are under threat. What price progress when you have to put your kids and dog in the car to take a walk in the fresh air!

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Silverbirch says...
6:21pm Tue 18 Sep 12

I don't understand why the Mercury failed to mention the road across the Fairfield which is part of this planning application from Summerfields? Surely this week, of all weeks, it makes this a significant issue for the town, which must PLEASE be brought to the attention of as many local people as possible. Are we going to stand by why they allow this road or are we going to stand together to protect our green spaces? Who thinks it is worth sacrificing the Fairfield to get this ecopark ( which will be too waterlogged to access, most of the time) .

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Waterway says...
9:33am Wed 19 Sep 12

So developers now want to build a substantial road across one of the most historic and so far untouched areas of Bridgwater namely our treasured Fairfield. No wonder they are trying to minimise the impact such development would cause. The clear message to both the Planners and developers from the people of Bridgwater is leave the Fairfield alone. Its historical relevance to home of the largest travelling fair and 600 years of history and a place for local residents to use as their own 'Village Green' will not be accepted by the people of this town in order to build 120 new homes. This application shows the contempt the developers have for the people of Bridgwater and planners only weeks after a similar application half a mile away was thrown out by planners. There's no current need or requirement for further housing on this scale and to use our historic Fairfield for access I am sure would be strenuously opposed by all sectors of the community.

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Dickduck says...
10:14am Wed 19 Sep 12

Waterway has said it all- leave the Fairfield alone! Do developers not read the local press and the clear reasons why a similar application was turned down only last month.Have they not reflected on two very important local planning decisions (one by a independent planning inspector) which clearly rejects the need for any new development at this time until all brownfield sites were exhausted.Now they want to come and destroy the Fairfield by building a road to gain access. I hope the local planners will again give the thumbs down to this application and send them away with a clear message the Fair fIeld is not negotiable as a planning tool to gain access to housing or an Eco park the town doesn't need or can ill afford.

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Boring says...
8:51pm Sat 22 Sep 12

The road won't happen unless the development happens.
The council have just turned down the Notaro application, so if there's any consistency in SDC this one will be turned down as well.......... I did say "if".

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