Public Inquiry Scheduled for 315-Home Development Decision

A public inquiry is scheduled for early next year to determine the fate of a proposal for 315 new residences situated at the periphery of a Somerset village. Gladman Developments has been pursuing authorization to construct this housing estate in Rockwell Green, a location close to Wellington, since October 2023. The proposed site, positioned between Exeter Road and the Taunton to Exeter railway line, is planned to feature 79 affordable housing units and a convenience store. The developer submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate due to the absence of a ruling from Somerset Council, and the inquiry is anticipated to commence in March 2025. Should the new homes receive approval, access would be provided via a new junction situated close to the entrance of Monument View. These properties are designed to encompass the Pitt Farm Park Homes site on its eastern side. The planned convenience store would be located adjacent to Exeter Road, and existing footpaths traversing the site are slated for enhancement to establish a connection to additional village services through the Dobree Park estate. Among the 315 residences proposed for the location, which include units from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, 25 percent, or 79 properties, are projected to be affordable. Gladman has stated that, if approval is granted, it intends to contribute almost £3 million to local education, comprising over £2 million for primary and secondary school placements and nearly £147,000 for special needs services. An additional £188,000 is also earmarked for the improvement or expansion of either Wellington Medical Centre or the Luson Surgery. In accordance with a previous court decision, all new housing developments within the Somerset Levels and Moors catchment area are required to implement substantial mitigation measures to avert any net rise in phosphates. To counteract the environmental effects of the new homes, a new wastewater treatment facility is also planned for construction at the north-western section of the site, adjacent to the railway line. A spokesperson for Gladman Developments commented: “While it is acknowledged that the appeal proposal results in a degree of harm to landscape character, this is comparable to that from the development of any greenfield site.” The Planning Inspectorate has verified that the outcome of the plans will be determined by a six-day public inquiry, anticipated to commence on March 11, 2025. A final decision is projected by late spring.