LONG-awaited pans have now been submitted for up to 230 new homes and an employment centre to be built on Parsonage Farm, Watchet.

Savills (UK) Ltd, as agents for the Wyndham Estate, is asking for detailed approval to convert four old farm buildings for business storage use, and for outline consent for the residential part of the plans with the details to follow later.

The ‘hybrid’ planning application covers 33.43 acres of farmland off the B3191 Brendon Road opposite St Decuman’s Church, one of the main entrances to Watchet.

Savills said more new homes would help to support the town’s existing services and facilities by generating additional patronage and would also complement those in neighbouring Williton.

A view of the grade two listed Parsonage Farm, Watchet, where new housing and employment development is proposed.
A view of the grade two listed Parsonage Farm, Watchet, where new housing and employment development is proposed. (LHC Design)

It believed the development would also help to raise the profile of Watchet as a destination for businesses to invest and locate.

Savills associate director Matt Tucker said there would be a mix of dwelling sizes, types, and affordable housing, and some buildings for employment.

The new houses and apartments would range from one to four-bedroom in size and up to three-storeys tall, to respond to local need.

‘Affordable’ homes would make up 35 per cent of the properties, which would be available to people with a local connection to West Somerset.

Mr Tucker said modern agricultural buildings in the farmyard would be demolished and replaced with new employment units.

A community orchard would be created as a buffer between the grade two listed farmhouse and the new residential development, with allotments between the farmyard and housing.

An illustrative lay-out plan of proposed development at Parsonage Farm, Watchet.
An illustrative lay-out plan of proposed development at Parsonage Farm, Watchet. (LHC Design)

All public rights of way on the site would be retained and a footpath to the north would be upgraded to a shared cycle and pedestrian link.

There would be a new junction off the B3191 via a ghost island right turn lane, leading to a new road along the southern boundary of the site to access both the new residential and business developments.

An existing access off the B3191 to the north of the farmyard would be retained for private use by residents of Parsonage Farmhouse only.

The development would feature high-quality pedestrian and cycle facilities connecting to St Decuman’s Road, which was expected to be the main route for people to reach local schools and Watchet’s town centre.

Roads on the new estate would have a 20 mph speed limit to make them suitable for cycling and help to reduce the use of cars.

Mr Tucker said because the former Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) did not prepare a new development plan before it was absorbed into the new unitary Somerset Council, old planning policies would have to be relied upon when deciding the application.

A view across the Parsonage Farm, Watchet, proposed development site from a footpath on the northern boundary.
A view across the Parsonage Farm, Watchet, proposed development site from a footpath on the northern boundary. (LHC Design)

Those policies stated new development in West Somerset would be concentrated in the district’s main centre of Minehead/Alcombe and the rural service centres of Watchet and Williton.

Mr Tucker said ‘meaningful consultation’ had taken place with the local community through a public consultation event last November, a meeting in January with Watchet Town Council, and ongoing discussions with Watchet Festival organisers and the 1st Watchet Sea Scout Group.

He said: “The comments received as part of this consultation have influenced the proposals and design of the scheme, including ensuring that the planning application benefits from sufficiently flexible uses that could facilitate ongoing storage of Watchet LIVE Community Interest Company’s festival equipment and potential land for the provision of a new, purpose-built scout group building.”

Two identical ‘hybrid’ planning applications for the development have been submitted to Somerset Council by Savills, one of which was required for consent for work on listed buildings.

The council is asking for public comments on the proposals to be submitted by December 21 but has not yet fixed a date for when its planning committee will decide the applications.

The applications are numbered 3/37/23/029 and 3/37/23/031 and can be viewed on the council’s planning portal here.