A small village just a few miles from the site of the county’s new £4bn ‘gigafactory’, could soon see the construction of new homes. Notaro New Homes Ltd has proposed plans to build 20 new homes on Church Road, B3141, just south of East Huntspill Village Hall in Somerset.
The Gravity enterprise zone, where Agratas’ new gigafactory is currently under construction and set to begin operations by the end of 2026, is only a short drive away. A decision on the proposal is expected from Somerset Council by early summer.
The new homes will be accessed via a new entry point created to the south of the existing village hall access, with the houses arranged around a looping spine road. Of the 20 homes planned, eight will be affordable (equating to 40 per cent) and will be “restricted to persons with a local connection to the village”.
The Bridgwater-based developer had previously proposed building 45 homes on the same site in February 2018, but withdrew the plans just over a month later. A spokesperson for Williams Planning Ltd, representing the applicant, stated: “The site is well-located in terms of access to local services and facilities available within walking and cycling distance.
“Pedestrian routes are available immediately adjacent to the site and a safe crossing is available, providing a connection from the site to the surrounding amenities. The development will provide 20 additional dwellings, including the identified local need for eight affordable homes for the area, and thereby directly addresses an identified housing need,” reports Somerset Live.
“The development is designed to be reflective of local character and it is considered that the site can be delivered without significant adverse impacts upon the area. “
The developer is currently appealing against the council over its proposed 49-home Cavalla Mews site in Berrow, and anticipates a decision from the Planning Inspectorate in spring.
The firm also has proposals for 47 more houses on North Villas within Cotford St. Luke near Taunton. Several locals have already lodging their objections on the council’s planning website, voicing their concerns about potential flooding and over-development.
Regarding the East Huntspill scheme, local resident R. Nicholls said: “East Huntspill has no amenities to offer.
The village shop closed two years ago, one of the two pubs has closed and the other only opens for skittles, the post office closed years ago and the primary school has limited spaces.
“The amount of traffic using the village has increased considerably in recent years; unfortunately, the traffic flow will only increase with the building of the Gravity site.”
James Forsyth said: “Siting additional homes next to the village hall – which is used for noisy wedding celebrations and such – could cause tensions in the future.”
He added: “During heavy rainfall and times of elevated water levels, our toilets, sinks, baths and showers struggle to drain away, with the water board often needing to attend to see if anything can be done to help matters.”
The council is set to make a decision on the East Huntspill proposals in the coming months.
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