Allowing new homes would be 'thin end of the wedge'

Controversial plans for 250 new homes beyond a town's "natural boundary" have been opposed by the local council.

Wellington Town Council voted on Monday to oppose the proposals for a site to the south of the A38 relief road.

It comes after about 90 people attended an earlier council meeting about the plans, which include 63 affordable homes.

The company behind the plans, West Country-based land investor Wellington LVA, said it was aware of "local concerns" over infrastructure and it would look to make "proportionate contributions" if its application was successful.

The housing development would be the first on the south side of the A38 in this area

Wellington mayor Janet Lloyd said: "If this proposal is agreed it will be the thin end of the wedge and the end of the green space between the A38 and the M5."

The site is made up of five agricultural fields, totalling 13.7 hectares, between Oldway Road - the A38 - to the north and Middle Green Farm to the south.

An initial consultation launched by Wellington LVA is open until 21 March.

Town council clerk Dave Farrow says it had been "standing room only" at a recent meeting

Dave Farrow, chief executive and town clerk of the town council, said a Local Plan drawn up in recent years concluded any new homes to the south of the relief road "wouldn't be appropriate".

"It wouldn't enable that development to be part of the community of Wellington - it would be separated by that main road," he said.

Mr Farrow said access from the new homes to the town centre would be down Swains Lane which "narrows significantly" at the town end.

He also said the town council was concerned about flooding.

"Geographically the site is above the level of the town so water will find its way down.

"It's essential water infrastructure is looked at as part of this process if the development goes ahead," he added.

On the promised 63 affordable homes, Mr Farrow said there were other sites already identified in the town where such housing could be built.

Local people argue the A38 forms a 'natural boundary' to the south of the town

Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton and Wellington, has also come out against the plans.

"On other proposed developments, I have argued that we need housing and particularly homes which are genuinely affordable to local people," he said.

"But the relief road is, and should remain, Wellington's natural boundary.

"Developers mustn't try to take advantage of the fact the new [Somerset Council] Local Plan is now being prepared to get unsustainable sites, in the setting of the Wellington Monument, built upon," Mr Amos said.

The town council had previously considered plans for developing the area in 2023, when it formally agreed to oppose the proposals.

'Sustainable market town'

Wellington LVA said that proposed site is within "easy walking and cycling distance" of a range of services and facilities and that the town of Wellington benefitted from its location close to Taunton and the M5 corridor.

"These credentials will be enhanced further with the potential re-opening of the Wellington Train Station," a spokesperson said.

They added: "Wellington is a sustainable market town which is identified within the existing Taunton Deane Core Strategy as a secondary focus for growth second only to Taunton."

The spokesperson said if the plans were approved, contributions could be made via a Section 106 agreement or Community Infrastructure Levy funding.