A MAJOR development on the edge of Watchet will be too far from local services and lead to further congestion, according to transport experts.

The Wyndham Estate submitted plans in early-December 2023 to build up to 230 homes, commercial units and an orchard near Parsonage Farm, off the B3191 Brendon Road.

Watchet Town Council has formally objected to the proposals and commissioned a report detailing the numerous reasons why the development would ultimately be damaging to the town.

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the outline proposals later in the year.

The report was completed by incorporated engineer Richard Fitter, a director of the Bath-based consultancy firm Entran Ltd. with more than 35 years’ experience in transport and traffic engineering.

Here are seven reasons he highlighted for turning down the plans:

  • Excessive distance from local services
  • Lack of safe access to the town centre
  • Lack of clarity over existing footpaths
  • Unsustainable reliance on the private car
  • Insufficient study of traffic impact
  • Congestion on local roads
  • The loss of the B3191 Cleeve Hill

In addition to the Entran report, CPRE Somerset has lodged a formal objection to the proposals, arguing the amount of housing growth within the town was disproportionate and would irrevocably damage the local landscape.

Chairman Hugh Williams said: “290 residential units were allocated for Watchet in the 2016 Local Plan. To date, 482 have been approved, which is 166 per cent more than allocated.

“Another 230 units at Parsonage Farm, if approved, would lead to a total of 712 consented units, which would be 245 per cent more than allocated. The scale of the proposed scheme is not proportionate to the function and role of Watchet.

“The Wansborough Paper Mill site is a more sustainable site than Parsonage Farm. It is a brownfield site, it is closer to shops and facilities, and offers safe, easy and level access to the town centre, it is not harmful to the landscape setting of Watchet, and it does not harm the setting and heritage significance of listed heritage assets.

“Filling in the fields at Parsonage Farm with built form, as now proposed, will detrimentally change the landscape character of this side of the town from mixed rural and developed to one of continuous and suburbanised development.”

Active Travel England has also raised concerns about the development, arguing that numerous upgrades to existing routes into the town centre will be needed.

Their concerns include:

  • The existing route to Knights Templar Church of England and Methodist Community First School, including the junction of Churchill Way and South Road
  • The crossing on Wyndham Road, which is not compliant with government mobility guidelines, along with the passageway to Liddymore Road
  • The use of St Decuman’s Road as a pedestrian and cycle link, with additional signs and some safety improvements being required
  • The lack of traffic calming measures on the main access road from the B3191

Due to the scale and significance of the plans, a decision on the Parsonage Farm site is expected to be taken in public by the council’s planning committee.