Plans for 21 homes in Westonzoyland failed on appeal due to flood risk, pedestrian safety issues, and unsustainability.
The local council said no in December 2023. They worried about lost business land, flood risk, and pedestrian safety. Baird appealed that decision. Now, the appeal failed too, as the Planning Inspectorate agreed with the council.
The building site is south of Springfield Farm, near the busy A372 road that connects Bridgwater and Langport. A caravan park plan was nearby, but those plans were withdrawn earlier this year.
The homes required demolishing existing buildings, some used by Burnham Coal Supplies and Slabs R Us. An inspector visited on December 12, 2024. His full ruling is now published online.
The inspector called the area “rural,” and stated that it’s not clearly connected to the village. There are no sidewalks on nearby roads, meaning people couldn’t easily walk to local services.
He said people would rely on cars, and that the development wouldn’t promote sustainable travel. This was a key reason for rejecting the plan, as it needed to provide a way for people to live sustainably.
The inspector also considered the visual impact, stating that the homes would look like a big urban area, which would hurt the rural feel. This type of development would stand out.
Drainage was another major issue. Baird didn’t prove the homes wouldn’t increase flooding. The Somerset Levels and Moors are flood-sensitive. Waste stations are south of the site, which could create problems.
Noise, odors, dust, and fumes are possibilities from the waste stations. These things could bother residents. No evidence proved these impacts could be avoided.