Peasedown St John residents who say their village has taken more than its fair share of housing in recent years, will be waiting nervously for the outcome of a planning appeal due to take place on 8th and 9th April at Farrington Park, in Farrington Gurney.

Edward Ware Homes are disputing the decision to turn down its plans to build 89 dwellings on green fields in Greenlands Road, made by B&NES Council's Development Control Committee back in July last year. The proposals were refused on the grounds that it would cause a significant adverse impact and permanent harm to the rural character and landscape, unacceptable pressures on Peasedown St John Primary School, which is already one of the largest in the area and has two Headteachers, and, finally, that the development would be unsustainable due to pressure on already overstretched services, such as the village's doctor's surgery.

The age-old problem is that whilst B&NES' Core Strategy is still not approved, the Council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing supply, which means that in most cases, developments which are shown to be 'sustainable' must be allowed to go ahead. This leaves local Councillors and Community Action Groups, such as the one set up to fight this development, Residents Protecting Peasedown, left to fight their corner and prove that these developments are not supportive or beneficial to the communities in which they live.

This situation is not helped by another problem that seems to occur time and time again – in that these proposals are often approved by B&NES' own Planning Officers, based on National Planning Policy Framework guidelines, and then overturned by its own Development Control Committee, to which the developer, in this case, argues that each refusal decision is based on 'outdated local planning policy' and is more than likely to appeal.

Another developer is appealing a refusal to build a similar housing estate at Fosseway Gardens and Five Arches in Midsomer Norton, whilst putting in another planning application for the same piece of land. With planning permission granted to Taylor Wimpey via appeal at Monger Lane for over 100 houses recently, developers feel that their appeals are in with a chance, leaving locals feeling bombarded.

Ironically, the NPPF was meant to give local people more say over where such developments would be built, but the desperate lack of a Local Plan could see our green fields disappearing forever.

Speaking about the appeal, Petra Schofield, from campaign group, Residents Protecting Peasedown, said this week: "We are very disappointed that Edward Ware has appealed. We are working closely with the Council to ensure that its decision is upheld by the independent Planning Inspector.

"The Council tells us that it has already approved the additional housing capacity required for the Somer Valley until 2029 without Greenlands Road and we understand the Planning Inspector is happy for the Core Strategy to proceed without change to housing levels. We are therefore hopeful that the appeal will not be upheld.

"This proposal is fundamentally unsustainable for our village. Our school cannot handle any more pupils, even with a financial contribution from the developer. Our surgery is already at breaking point, the additional traffic levels and access onto the main road pose a real danger to pedestrians, particularly at school pick-up time, and the suburban nature of the new housing estate is not in keeping to the rural characteristics of this part of Peasedown. It is madness to approve such an unsustainable and ill-thought-out development when the Council can show it already has an adequate housing supply.

"The proposal is opposed by over 1,000 residents, our Ward Councillors, the Parish Council and two neighbouring Parish Councils."

Lib-Dem Ward Councillors for Peasedown St John, Cllr Nathan Hartley and Sarah Bevan, have also been speaking out about the appeal. Cllr Hartley said: "I've had the privilege of representing Peasedown St John for the last seven years on Bath and North East Somerset Council. In all that time, I've never experienced such a huge amount of opposition to something – as I do this proposal.

"Peasedown's focus should be on securing better infrastructure for its existing residents, not building significantly more homes on highly-valued green field. A full consultation with over 2,600 households needs to be carried out by the developer. If that happens, he will know what local people think."

Sarah Bevan added: "On paper and in practice, this application remains highly unsuitable and damaging to Peasedown St John. Whilst I accept the need for more housing in the area, I feel that Peasedown St John has done it's bit. Furthermore, there is another parcel of land on the A367 which would be far more suitable for development."

Peasedown St John has already seen a large scale development in recent times, with 95 homes now nearing completion on Wellow Lane by David Wilson. Campaigners are now hoping that modifications made to the plans by Edward Ware Homes, which removes previously submitted business space, will help the argument against unsustainable development. But like the Monger Lane Appeal, it really could go either way.

Comments to the appeal needed to be submitted by 15th January, but for more details about this issue, visit: http://www.residentsprotecting">www.residentsprotecting peasedown.org/

The developer was approached, but has no comment to make at this stage.