Somerset Council has declined planning permission for a new travellers' site near the location earmarked for a large data centre, citing concerns over flooding and insufficient evidence of demand.
The application, submitted by Tommy Dolan in May 2024, proposed establishing a site with six pitches on Horsey Lane near Bridgwater. This area lies between the M5 motorway and existing residential properties.
Following a deliberation period exceeding two years, the council has refused the development. Officials highlighted that the proposed site is highly susceptible to flooding, and the applicant failed to provide compelling evidence that the pitches address a demonstrable local need.
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The site falls within the parish of Bridgwater Without, on land that previously formed part of the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, dismantled after the Beeching cuts in the 1960s. Earlier planning permission permitted three mobile homes on the site to accommodate construction workers while a permanent home was built for a local family.
The new proposal sought to create six pitches at the southern end of the site, closest to the motorway, with each pitch designed to accommodate a mobile home and a parking space.
A spokesperson for Mr Dolan stated, “The application would deliver traveller pitches to meet an identified local need. This six-pitch proposal close to the urban fringe of Bridgwater is proportionate in scale and does not dominate the neighbouring community. Its proximity to Bridgwater ensures access to all necessary services and facilities, thus minimising transport impacts.”
The council’s planning officers refused the application under delegated powers rather than via a public committee decision. Planning officer Anna Hayes cited three reasons for refusal:
- The site lies in an area at risk of flooding, and the council is not convinced that there are no reasonable alternative sites available.
- Mr Dolan has provided inadequate information to demonstrate that the new pitches would meet the needs of local Gypsies and travellers.
- Insufficient details were provided regarding measures to mitigate noise and other impacts from the nearby M5 motorway.
This decision comes just six months after the council approved an initial screening request for a substantial new data centre spanning over 180 football pitches at the opposite end of Horsey Lane. The proposed data centre would be accessed from Bath Road and is expected to require approximately 500MW of power, primarily supplied by a neighbouring solar farm.
No detailed masterplan for the data centre has been published, and it remains unclear which company would operate the facility or the number of jobs it might create.
In response to the data centre proposals, more than 2,000 local residents have signed an online petition urging the council to block any detailed plans. The petition warns of potential long-term health and environmental impacts associated with the development.
Jaya Lemaitre, who initiated the petition, said, “The proposed AI data centre will consume an alarming amount of fresh water, estimated between 11 and 19 million litres per day for cooling purposes. This places considerable strain on local water resources, affecting everyday access for residents. Additionally, continual noise and artificial lighting from the facility threaten the peace of our community and local wildlife. Such pollution may cause lasting health issues like sleep disturbances and increased stress, ultimately diminishing quality of life.”