SOMERSET Council has refused a planning application for 49 new homes near a primary school in Berrow.

Bridgwater-based Notaro New Homes Ltd applied to build the new housing estate on the field behind Cavalla Mews, a stone's throw from Berrow Primary Church Academy.

It was proposed that 20 of the 49 houses made up of a mixture of flatted, detached, and semi-detached houses, would be affordable dwellings 

There were also plans to build associated garages, streets, parking areas, and a communal green space within the site.

Consultation of the plans began on Thursday, October 12, 2023 - and after almost three months of deliberating, permission has been refused.

Somerset Council listed five reasons for its refusal of the plans.

Firstly, the Planning Officer believes that the proposed site which would project into the open countryside would not suit the existing layout and pattern of the surroundings, and would be detrimental to the area's character and that of the surrounding rural landscape.

The proposal stated plans to raise the land levels in order to mitigate risk of flooding - the planning officer said this combined with the height of the buildings would be 'visually intrusive'.

According to the council, insufficient information to determine the presence or otherwise of protected wildlife species was provided in the application, which did not demonstrate that acceptable mitigation and biodiversity enhancement measures could be provided within the proposed development.

Another reason for the refusal was the Planning Officer's judgement that the site would not be safe from flood risk, due to a lack of evidence of a passed flood risk Exceptions Test in the application.

Finally, inadequate information was provided to prove that the proposed drainage strategy was sufficient to appropriately manage surface water and not result in increased risk of flooding elsewhere.

Over 40 locals to the area wrote to the council to share their thoughts on the application, with many citing the risk of flooding, as well as the risk to children at Berrow Primary Church Academy if building materials were to be frequently transported in and out of the site along the small road near the school.

Others feared traffic on nearby roads would come to a standstill during busy periods, and worried for local wildlife which would be impacted by the site's construction.

The full application and decision breakdown can be viewed by searching for the reference number 05/23/00011 on the Somerset Council website.