Curo, the not-for-profit housing organisation, will be holding an exhibition this Thursday for residents to find out more about a proposed housing development at Greenlands Road, Peasedown St John, a site which received over 1,000 signatures in a petition against plans originally put forward by developer, Edward Ware.

The site for 89 homes by the Bristol-based developer was originally refused, not only by B&NES, but was unanimously voted against by Peasedown St John Parish Council, however, B&NES’ decision was overturned at appeal by a Government Inspector last June. In March this year, Curo bought the land from Edward Ware with outline planning permission in place, with 31 of the homes on the site due to be affordable homes for rent or sale.

At the time, this particular site was arguably a victim of the Core Strategy not being in place and residents have maintained all along that it is unsuitable for development. It is on sloping green fields with views of the Cam Valley and has current access issues to and from the main road. Local Councillors for Peasedown St John fought the application at the time and continue to voice their opinion on it now. Cllrs Karen Walker and Sarah Bevan have said that as well as the above points, both Greenlands Road and nearby Hillside View already suffer from a severe shortage of parking spaces for residents and that local services, such as the Primary School and Doctor’s Surgery are at capacity. Peasedown St John Primary School is one of the largest in the area and has a Headteacher, Assistant Head and two Deputy Headteachers.

Curo is preparing a reserved matters application for the site, to be submitted to B&NES before Christmas. The exhibition on Thursday at the Community Room, Hillcrest, from 4.45 p.m. - 6.45 p.m., will show the plans in more detail. A spokesperson for Curo said this week that it will be proposing some amendments to the layout of the scheme to take the ecology of the site into consideration.

Residents Protecting Peasedown, a group put together to fight overdevelopment in the village, says that whilst they still remain opposed to the scheme, they hope their concerns will be listened to. A spokesperson for RPP said: “Residents Protecting Peasedown and its supporters remain fundamentally opposed to the principle of building on this field. We believe it can only bring problems to a village with infrastructure already at breaking point.

“However, we want to engage constructively with Curo during the planning stage to secure the best outcome for residents, should the Council grant permission.

“When we heard that Curo had bought the land, we were hopeful of a high standard of public engagement. So we find it deeply disappointing that they confirmed their first public meeting with less than a week’s notice to residents, and with zero local publicity.

“Residents’ knowledge of local issues and of the problems that already exist from years of over-development in the village, need to be heard. This way, Curo can addres them in their plans.

“We urge as many people as possible to attend the meeting on Thursday, 3rd December.”

Cllrs Karen Walker and Sarah Bevan, (Independent, Peasedown St John), said this week: “As much as we recognise the need for more social housing in our area and the benefits that Curo could provide as a housing developer in Peasedown St John, our view on the development of this site in Greenlands Road remains unchanged.

“We have been for several years and continue to be so, opposed in principle to any houses being built on this land.

“Over the last twenty-five years, our village has seen considerable growth, with more than 1,300 new homes built. As much as we have welcomed these homes and, more importantly, the people who have settled here, the village has not seen the same level of growth in the amount of amenities – meaning that those services we have are completely stretched to capacity.

“We cannot support any application by Curo to build housing in Greenlands Road for the reasons we have outlined previously and continue to object.”

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Members of Curo and the design team for the application will be available at the meeting this Thursday to discuss the plans and answer residents’ questions. The press release inviting residents to the meeting was received late on Tuesday after The Journal had gone to press.