Government planning inspector David Nicholson has finally killed off unpopular plans for almost 250 new houses on land near Tonedale.
Developer South Western Property Ltd took their project to appeal after Taunton Deane planners rejected the proposals last year. Local reactions to the plans to build a large new estate on farmland across the River Tone and next to Milverton Rd were fierce.
Wellington town councillor Jackie Govier said she had never seen so many objections to a planning application and councillor David Mitton claiming it would “totally destroy the community.” The Tone Action Group, described the proposals as “superfluous and unsustainable”.
Mr Nicholson said the proposed houses would be over a mile from Wellington town centre and it would be difficult to encourage residents to travel by means other than the car. He added that the development would not only be distant from Wellington town centre but cut off from nearby villages, adding: “It would be an isolated housing estate tenuously linked to the north of the town.”
Mr Nicholson also said that to allow housing on this site, would contravene the Council’s recently adopted planning blueprint, the Core Strategy and the Government’s own national planning policies.
Cllr Mark Edwards, Taunton’s executive councillor for Planning and Transportation, said: “I welcome the Inspector’s decision. This clearly demonstrates the importance having the Core Strategy in place. It is also pleasing to see local people getting involved in issues that affect their community.”