AN ICONIC beauty spot overlooking Minehead, which has now been rejected four times for housing development, should be compulsorily purchased for the town and turned into a Covid memorial, campaigners said this week.

This followed the dismissal by planning inspector Mr J J Evans of an appeal by land-owner Mr J Way to build 12 houses on a 2.7-acre moorland site south of Beacon Road, Minehead. Two applications and another appeal had already been turned down since 2019 after campaigns by pressure groups.

“We are very pleased with the inspector’s decision and the town should now make every effort to take the land into public ownership” said North Hill Action Group member Chris Miller.

“This will allow us to form a community trust to preserve and enhance the green backdrop to the town and create a Covid memorial area. To that end, communications with Somerset Council will be accelerated.

“Our collective heritage is not to be treated as a speculative plaything.”

The campaign is also backed by several local organisations including the town council and Minehead Conservation Society, whose chair, Ms Sally Bainbridge said this week: “We are delighted that the appeal has been dismissed.

“Once again the importance of the treed aspect of North Hill, to its Conservation Area, its listed buildings and indeed to the setting of Minehead itself, has been judged to be of greater value than the proposed advantages of development.

“We applaud everyone who registered their objection in defence of Minehead’s landmark, landscape feature.

“Now is the time to move forward and bring this land into public ownership and safeguard it once and for all for generations to come.’

In his report, Mr Evans said that Clevelands country house and St Michael’s church, which are near the site, were listed buildings in a conservation area. “I have paid special regard to the desirability of preserving listed buildings and of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of the conservation area.”

Mr Evans said the main issues were the effect of the proposal upon the character and appearance of the area and upon protected trees, the impact of the proposal upon protected species, surface water drainage and affordable housing.

He added that the land was on a steeply sloping hillside. “North Hill forms an impressive green backdrop to the town, and given its steep sides and proximity to the coast, forms an imposing landscape feature that can be seen from many miles away. The presence of numerous tall trees, many of which are evergreen, creates a green top to the hill.

“Not only do they contribute to the verdant appearance of the hill, but they also serve to screen the houses to the northern side of the road and make a positive contribution to the conservation area.”

Mr Evans said that although the proposed houses would be higher up the hill than either Clevelands or the church, they would nevertheless be a harmfully intrusive group within the settings of these listed buildings, and the dwellings would draw the eye.

The provision of five affordable homes would be a significant public benefit, and such housing would assist in meeting the needs of the local community. Future occupiers would make a small contribution to the local economy, including supporting local services, and there would be a time-limited economic benefit arising from the construction of the housing.

The inspector added: “Balanced against this is that the affordable housing has not been secured and this significantly tempers the weight attributable to this public benefit.

“Given this, the public benefit arising from the scheme would not outweigh the significant harm that would arise to the conservation area and to the settings of the listed buildings.

“For these reasons, the proposal would have a significant and unacceptable impact upon the character and appearance of the area, and the suggested conditions would not mitigate this harm.

“The harms to the conservation area and to the settings of nearby listed buildings would not be outweighed by public benefits.

“Minehead is an area of high demand for affordable housing. The provision of five affordable homes would help to meet some of this need, and would accord with the objectives of LP Policy SC4, which requires on-site provision for affordable housing on all sites of eleven or more dwellings.

“The appellant has agreed to enter into a legal agreement and would accept a condition in relation to this.

Mr Evans added: “The appeal has not been supported by any legal agreement. Consequently, there is no mechanism to ensure that the affordable housing could be provided and maintained as such, including to ensure that occupancy criteria is defined and enforced, and that it remains affordable to first and subsequent occupiers.”

He said that local residents had raised a number of matters, including loss of privacy, highway safety and construction traffic concerns, use of the site as a public space, the creation of a precedent, and that there have been numerous applications for development on the site.

Mr Evans concluded “For the reasons given above and having considered all other matters raised, the appeal is dismissed.

Mr Miller added: “I am sure I speak for the entire town when I invite Mr Way, the owner, to donate the land to the people of Minehead, so that we can take up the mantle of enhancing it for this and future generations of residents and visitors alike. “

Invited to comment on the latest developments the applicant’s agent, Chris Mitchell of Mitchell Architects, Williton, told the Free Press: “I have spoken to my client and he does not wish to make any comments at this stage.”