CONSTRUCTION of the first new council homes in Minehead for a generation can be ramped up after amended plans were approved by district councillors.

Somerset West and Taunton Council approved plans in June 2021 to build 54 new properties – comprising 33 flats and 21 houses or bungalows) on Seaward Way, near the town’s community hospital and Toolstation outlet.

The council signed a £9.5million contract with Classic Builders in July 2021, with a view to beginning work in November and delivering all the new homes by the end of 2023.

Construction can now be sped up considerably after the council’s planning committee voted on Thursday afternoon (April 7) to amend the plans regarding the estate roads leading to and from the site.

Under the original planning permission, construction of the new roads leading from Seaward Way to the homes could not begin until their designs has been agreed by Somerset County Council, which is responsible for highway matters.

This was to ensure that the roads connecting the new homes was “provided to a satisfactory standard” so they could be adopted, rather than the new tenants having to pay a private management company to maintain the road.

District council planning officer Kieran Reeves said amending this condition would mean the council would not miss out on vital funding from Homes England, which provides grants to ‘unlock’ housing sites where the development may not otherwise prove commercially viable.

He said in his report: “We are seeking to avoid delays to the construction of the affordable homes that would potentially be caused by the condition as currently worded, as delay could jeopardise the £1million of grant funding provided by Homes England.

“Additionally, it is stated that a temporary haul road would have to be constructed in order to minimise the delay, as no roads could be constructed prior to details being agreed. This would have an impact on the finances of the project and also have environmental implications.

“The county council has acknowledged that the scheme is 100 per cent affordable housing and that the grant funding could be compromised by a significant delay that may be caused by agreeing details on roads prior to construction.

“It has concluded that it considers there to be exceptional circumstances which have been put forward to allow for the delivery of these affordable homes, and therefore it raises no objections to the proposed development.”

Councillor Craig Palmer, whose Minehead Central ward includes the site, said he was “fully behind” the changes.