PLANS to build 51 new homes in the centre of Peasedown St John have been put on hold, following a review by the developer.

Housing developer Curo was awarded planning permission several years ago, despite years of public opposition, to build 51 homes in Greenlands Road.

Bath and North East Somerset councillors Karen Walker and Gavin Heathcote (Independents) say they have been meeting Curo regularly over the last two years to raise their concerns, and those of residents, about the unsuitability of this scheme.

In a statement provided to the councillors, Curo said: “Since securing planning permission for this scheme, wider economic factors, including rising build costs and a stagnant sales environment.”

The statement comes after 13 years of lobbying and campaigning from residents, Cllrs Walker and Heathcote and the campaign group ‘Residents Protecting Peasedown’, who have all expressed concern about the impact that building homes in Greenlands Road would have on the local environment, the village’s infrastructure and the wider community as a whole.

Cllrs Walker and Heathcote said in response to the news: “We welcome the news from Curo that their plans to build 51 homes on a steep slope next to a small residential road in the centre of our community have been placed on hold.”