Bridgwater Housing Development Approved Amidst Flood and Parking Objections

A significant residential development in a Somerset town centre has received approval, despite existing concerns regarding potential flooding and insufficient parking facilities. The proposal for a new 30-bed House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) situated on Friarn Street, Bridgwater, was endorsed by Somerset Council’s planning committee north, notwithstanding opposition from some councillors. This committee is responsible for handling major planning applications within the former Sedgemoor area. Brian Smedley, who leads Bridgwater Town Council and also represents Bridgwater South on Somerset Council, commented: “This is exactly why it was a good day when Sedgemoor District Council disappeared – out-of-town councillors would constantly vote in favour of over-development in Bridgwater.” Smedley expressed that constructing to such an extent on the site would elevate the flood risk for residents from the nearby Durleigh Brook. He further added: “Once again here’s something we don’t want in our town yet we’ve got to have it.” Friarn Street has experienced considerable interest from housing developments in recent years, with plans for 43 flats gaining approval in December 2021 and a proposal for a 16-bed HMO being approved in March 2024, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Councillor Kathy Pearce, whose Bridgwater South division includes the site, argued that the plans would detrimentally affect the “historic setting” of adjacent buildings and intensify existing car parking problems. She stated: “I believe that this application exceeds the tipping point on this site into over-development, especially in terms of impact on highways.” She continued: “I also have significant concerns over the flood risk and believe the design does not respect the historical setting of the site.” Conversely, Councillor Alastair Hendry (Highbridge and Burnham South) asserted that the argument concerning parking did “not hold up”. Hendry remarked: “In an HMO like this, which is a stone’s throw from the town centre, you usually find that not everybody who lives there owns a car.” He concluded: “Everybody always finds a parking bay somewhere.” Following approximately an hour of deliberation, the committee proceeded to approve the plans by a vote of seven in favor to three against.