Peasedown Parish Council has joined over 950 residents and B&NES Councillors, Sarah Bevan and Nathan Hartley, to object to plans to build a large housing estate on a green field in Peasedown St John.
At a full Parish Council meeting last night, Councillors voted unanimously to reject the proposal to build 89 homes on a green field near Greenlands Road, because of the unsuitability of the land and the detrimental impact it would have on the village.
Bristol-based housebuilder, Edward Ware Homes Ltd, submitted a planning application in December. It wants to build the estate on a field that's less than three football pitches in size, on a steeply sloping hill, and linked to the village high street by narrow roads.
More than 950 villagers have signed a petition against the proposal. Hundreds have also objected to the planning application on B&NES website.
This land is outside of the Housing Development Boundary, the area of the village identified by BB&NES as appropriate for new housing. This would normally protect the field from development. But B&NES' Core Strategy for development was criticised by a Government Planning Inspector in 2012 and has not been officially adopted. Until a new Core Strategy is in place, greenfield and greenbelt sites have reduced protection because the National Planning Policy Framework dictates that where there is a shortfall in housing supply, a 'presumption in favour of sustainable development' may overrule any existing policy.
While the developer and his agents have attempted to defend the sustainability of the scheme, hundreds of residents are objecting to the harmful impact it would have on the village.
Peasedown has shouldered significant development over the last thirty years, but the village infrastructure is largely unchanged. Residents already struggle to get appointments at the surgery and the school is close to capacity with some children having to travel by car to neighbouring villages.
Traffic at the nearest junction to the proposed estate is already dangerous at peak times. Neighbouring Parish Councils and hamlet residents have lodged objections concerning an increase in lanes being used as 'rat runs' for new commuters. There are very minimal employment opportunities in the village.
The field provides stunning, uninterrupted views of the Cam Valley and residents are worried that developing on the field will irrevocably spoil the viewpoint that's treasured by the wider village community. A green corridor for wildlife, the field also acts as a natural buffer between the village and the 100-year-old miners colony at Hillside View.
Residents Protecting Peasedown is encouraging villagers to lodge their objection with the Council before 13th February at www. bathnes.gov.uk Planning reference 12/05477/OUT (Greenlands Road).