Plans to build 750 new homes near the M5 motorway in Bridgwater have been temporarily put on hold while the government considers whether to call in the application for a public inquiry.
The proposed development, put forward by Edward Ware (Bridgwater) Ltd, was approved by Somerset Council’s planning committee for an extensive site between Bower Lane and the motorway. The scheme also includes plans for a primary school and a community hub.
Following the committee’s approval, Hugh Williams, chairman of the Somerset branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), wrote to the government requesting a ‘holding direction’. This measure prevents the council from issuing planning permission until certain concerns have been addressed.
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The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has since granted this holding direction and is now determining whether the case should be called in for a public inquiry.
In his letter to the National Planning Casework Unit (NPCU), Mr Williams raised concerns over the proposed infrastructure contributions, stating that the developer’s plans appear to conflict with national planning policy. He highlighted strong objections submitted by all nine GP surgeries serving the area, including the four closest to the development site, which cited patient safety issues, reduced quality of care, and insufficient consideration of the cumulative impact from other approved developments nearby.
Mr Williams emphasised that without fully funded and deliverable plans for additional primary care capacity-including appropriate premises, workforce expansion, and long-term operational funding-the healthcare impacts of the development remain unacceptable. He added that the £173,000 proposed through Section 106 contributions towards healthcare would be wholly inadequate given the anticipated demand.
The letter also criticised the developer’s proposal of just six per cent affordable housing-approximately 45 properties-as ‘totally inadequate’ to meet local needs. Noting the high abnormal costs related to building on a low-lying, drained site requiring deep piling and noise mitigation alongside the motorway, he suggested that a higher density development on a smaller portion of land might have been more appropriate, potentially delivering more affordable homes.
Sir Ashley Fox, Conservative MP for Bridgwater, has expressed his support for the call-in, stressing that while he backs appropriate housing growth, new homes must be accompanied by the infrastructure necessary to support them. He voiced concerns regarding the amount of affordable housing and the strain on local GP surgeries, schools, and roads.
In a response from the NPCU, case officer Rachael Beard confirmed the holding direction, also known as an Article 31 direction, was enacted on 22 September. She advised that the parties involved will be notified once a decision is reached on whether the inquiry will proceed.