Somerset councillors will decide next week whether nearly 150 new homes will be built in Watchet.

Grass Roots Planning was granted permission by Somerset West and Taunton Council in October 2019 to build 139 new homes on land either side of Normandy Avenue.

Edenstone Homes acquired the site in late-2022 and submitted amended proposals in January 2023 for the same number of properties.

Further revisions were made to these plans earlier in the new year, with Somerset Council’s planning committee west expected to make a decision on May 1.

The site straddles three agricultural fields either side of Normandy Avenue and Cherry Tree Way, a short distance from the Liddymore Park development of 250 homes currently being constructed by Summerfield Developments.

The main access will be from a new junction on Doniford Road at the site’s eastern edge, providing a direct link to the neighbouring village of Williton.

Under the original plans, a spine road would have run uninterrupted throughout the site to the northernmost homes, with Normandy Avenue being divided into two and accessed via staggered junctions.

Following discussions with the council’s planning and highways officers, this has now been changed, with Normandy Avenue being retained as a continuous road and staggered junctions leading off it to the homes at either end of the site.

The existing farm track to Liddymore Farm will remain in place, allowing farm vehicles to pass through the development and maintaining the public right of way which provides access to Knights Templar Community Church School.

A spokesman for Grass Roots Planning (representing Edenstone Homes) said: “The proposed development offers a high-quality scheme that will play an important role in boosting the supply of housing in the area alongside wider benefits, including biodiversity gains and the provision of a large public park that is likely to be a destination for residents of the wider Watchet area, given the views and quality of walking routes it will deliver.”

Both Watchet Town Council and Williton Parish Council objected to the previous iteration of the plans, arguing that the homes would be out of character with the existing properties and highlighting the ongoing closure of the B3191 Cleeve Hill (which links the town to Blue Anchor).

A spokesman for the parish council said: “The proposed houses are not in keeping with the area. We would prefer stone-faced dwellings, using local stone.

“Chimneys would improve the character of the buildings and be more in keeping. Solar panels should be incorporated on each dwelling.

“The developer must make sure there is sufficient infrastructure to ensure each dwelling has enough power to charge two cars on a fast charge. Because of the location, residents will rely on their cars for transport to work or school.

“There has been no provision provided for public transport services. Strategic planning of the local road network needs to be reconsidered in view of other nearby developments and the closure of the B3191 at Cleeve Hill.”

The council’s planning committee west will meet in Taunton to discuss the proposals on Wednesday, May 1 at 2pm.