PLANS have been approved for 26 new homes to be built in a village near Bridgwater - but locals have shared their discontent with the decision.

The Friends of Middlezoy group campaigned against the proposed Summerfield Homes development on Back Lane in 2022, when 11 out of 12 planning committee members on the former Sedgemoor District Council voted to refuse planning permission.

However, planning permission was granted to the developer on appeal earlier this week.

The application went to committee with the planning offices recommendation and no technical objection from highways or other consultees.

The Friends of Middlezoy group said: "The village is shocked, angered and extremely frustrated by this decision, and is at present investigating requesting a judicial review at the High Court, for which we will crowd fund if we feel we have a strong enough argument to do so."Bridgwater Mercury: Middlezoy residents successfully campaigned against the proposed site last year, but the decision to deny permission has now been overturned.Middlezoy residents successfully campaigned against the proposed site last year, but the decision to deny permission has now been overturned. (Image: Becky Turner)

Friends of Middlezoy have enlisted an independent local planning consultant to review and compare the Planning Inspectorate Decision document to the document created by Somerset Council which details their reasons for refusal.

"It would appear the Planning Inspector has totally overlooked each of their reasons outlined, which we feel is extremely questionable given the main argument from them (and the village I might add), is that the site is unsafe for development due to its location, access to it, and the surrounding road network, which cannot support additional vehicle movements," added a spokesperson on behalf of the group.

"Ours and the opinion of the planning committee is that the risk of injury to a resident, and highly likely a pedestrian, is significant. For the Planning Inspector to ignore this is extremely negligent."

Local residents also questioned the appeals process, which saw the decision not to build the site overturned by one person, despite the majority of the former Sedgemoor District Council planning committee voting to deny planning permission last year.

"How is it possible in a democracy such as ours that one person, who knows nothing about the village of Middlezoy, and what it means to it, can overturn such a strong decision against the development?," a spokesperson explained.

"We fully accept more homes are required, but surely only where it is safe to build?"

The group also believe that Summerfield Homes were only granted planning permission due to their pledge to include affordable homes in the new development.

"It is also important to note that they are only providing ten affordable homes in their scheme...

"This does not deliver on the requirements set out in Sedgemoor District Council’s own Housing Needs Assessment (2021), which identified the need for 26."

Middlezoy Parish Council has been working with Homes in Sedgemoor to fulfil the need for 26 affordable homes in Middlezoy at a separate site.

The Friends of Middlezoy group now fear this may not come to fruition in light of the successful Summerfield Homes appeal.

They say this would mean 16 local individuals or families will not be able to secure an affordable home.

Somerset Council were contacted for a response, but said they had no further comment on the matter.