SSDC have taken the unusual step of asking the Parish Council to comment on the publicly available information regarding the potential development of 160 homes on land behind Bowden Road. The information in the public domain consists of a brochure sent to a number of residents in the area which gave an outline of the scheme and suggested a formal Outline Planning Application was being prepared.
Information has been published previously on this website and is available and includes information about the planning process and how to comment with examples of how decisions are made- click here
As yet there is no Planning application submitted and at our December meeting the Parish Council agreed to respond to SSDC on the publicly available information as follows:-
EMPLOYMENT – there is insufficient employment in Templecombe and the surrounding Villages to support residents.
It therefore, means that people have to travel for work therefore significantly impacting on the sustainability of the location.
HIGHWAYS – It is felt the proposed access to the site is inadequate and more vehicle movements on to Bowden Road from the proposed development will be detrimental to an already busy road serving a number of properties and which we feel is at capacity.
INFRASTRUCTURE – although it is accepted Templecombe can offer a number of facilities, taking into account development already approved and taking place, a number of facilities are stretched and reaching their capacity.
FLOODING – It is acknowledged that some areas of the proposed development land is subject to flooding at certain times of the year.
Clearly, if SSDC receives a Planning Application for this development the Parish Council will be able to make more specific comments when the proposal details are clarified.
It is now clear that SSDC still cannot demonstrate that they have a ‘5 years supply of Housing land’ and that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is likely to apply