A CONTROVERSIAL scheme for eight new homes to be built in a West Somerset village has been reduced to five in new proposals which avoid any need to include ‘affordable housing’ because it falls below the six-property threshold.

Wyndham Estate trustees won planning permission in September of last year for eight three and four-bedroom, two-storey houses on land north of Huish Lane, Washford.

The trustees had been battling the planners for three years to obtain a consent which defied strong local opposition by parish councillors and residents.

A three-dimensional image of how a proposed new housing development in Washford would look. IMAGE: Polden Planning Ltd.
A three-dimensional image of how a proposed new housing development in Washford would look. IMAGE: Polden Planning Ltd. ( )

The estate was previously refused permission first for a 14-home development on the site and then for 10 properties.

The parish council said Washford no longer had the infrastructure facilities to accommodate any new development.

But Somerset councillors dismissed the objections and approved eight houses on the edge of the village close to Washford Village Hall and Old Cleeve Primary School.

Now, Taunton-based Tregenna Group has said it wants to take the scheme forward with only five new homes to be built.

Planning agent Rebecca Randall, of Polden Planning Ltd, said the development would now comprise three family properties and two bungalows.

Ms Randall said the new application was a ‘positive step-change’ in planning terms over and above the ‘fallback’ position of the eight homes permission in terms of design, heritage, amenity, and landscape benefits.

She said access would be from Huish Lane alongside Huish Mews leading to a courtyard arrangement onto which the five properties would face.

Street trees, new hedgerow planting, and stone walls would be incorporated into public and private spaces.

Ms Randall said she and the applicants had met parish councillors to present the plans and in response to their concerns only low level and bat-friendly lighting would be included to protect dark skies.

She said solar panels and electric vehicle charging as requested by the councillors would be included.

Ms Randall said the smaller scale proposal with a mix of property types met local plan policies for development to form an integral, harmonious addition to Washford’s existing character, maintaining existing levels of service provision and creating a balanced community.