Bridgwater residents oppose 750-home development near M5

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 15 Oct, 18:02 · Archive

Somerset Council approved plans for 750 new homes near the M5 in Bridgwater, which residents say will damage green spaces and strain local services.

Somerset Council's planning committee north approved outline plans in early September for 750 new homes, a primary school and a community hub between Bower Lane and the M5 in Bridgwater. The proposals include only 45 affordable homes and form the central development within the East Bridgwater housing allocation in the Sedgemoor Local Plan, which envisions at least 1,200 homes in the area by 2032.

Residents have vowed to continue fighting the development. Liz Browne, who sits on Bridgwater Without Parish Council, said there was 'enormous concern' among local residents about the impact of such high-scale house-building. She said: 'We felt that the planning committee was largely rail-roaded into approving this, and the cumulative impacts of all the developments we're going to have around here have not been adequately considered.'

Browne pointed to existing strain on local services, saying: 'We already have enormous congestion in the town, people are struggling to get GP appointments – and that's when they haven't even started really the building.' She highlighted other developments in the pipeline, including 260 homes at Strawberry Grange to the north of Westonzoyland Road and homes at Folletts Farm which has not yet started.

A possible legal challenge to the approval is hanging in the balance as residents and local representatives continue to oppose the scale of development.

How it is being reported

• Bridgwater residents say 'our lovely green spaces are becoming an urban concrete jungle'Neighbours in a Somerset town are vowing to keep battling big development plansSomersetLive · 15 Oct, 17:49
• Bridgwater residents vow to keep fighting against new homes near M5Plans for 750 new homes near the M5 are currently on hold - and Bridgwater residents have vowed to make their voices heard as things move forwardBridgwater Mercury · 15 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Bridgwater · Somerset Council · Liz Browne · Bridgwater Without Parish Council · M5

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