September 19th 2023
Somerset housing regeneration project to be reduced
A major new housing development in Chard is still set to go ahead although with fewer homes than planned.
In 2016 Persimmon Homes south west, a nationwide homes builder, applied for planning permission to construct over 300 new homes in Chard, Sommerset. Although the original plan was reduced to 252 homes, the developer has now made further changes which include reducing the number of properties to 236.
Against this backdrop, in April 2021 South Somerset District Council postponed making a concrete decision on the proposed plans as a result of traffic and funding issues for a local primary school.
A spokesperson for Walsingham Planning, who is representing the developer, said: ‘The design and layout of the homes and the proposed distributor road have been amended with the number of homes to the south of the site reduced, combined with an improvement to the green infrastructure network provided along the relief road.
‘This ‘green link’ is formed by a separated path for shared use by pedestrians and cyclists. The location of public open space has been repositioned to connect with the proposed development adjacent to the site to the north west.’
The Persimmon site is part of the Chard Eastern Development Area (CEDA), which is identified in the South Somerset Local Plan to deliver at least 2,700 new homes, along with 17 hectares of employment land and two new primary schools.
In addition to creating new homes, the proposed plans are also working to lower the amount of toxic air that is produced within the area. A new roundabout is set to be built on Tatworth road specifically to help limit the amount of traffic congestion.
Following this, 35% of the new homes will also be affordable, keeping in line with existing council policy.
The plans are expected to come before Somerset Council’s planning committee south for a final decision by the end of the current year.
Image: Persimmon Homes south west