Curo’s plans to demolish two homes to make way for a new 54-house development at Underhill Lane have been blocked by councillors.

The housing association wants to build a new road through where two of its existing social homes, 26 and 28 Orchard Vale, currently stand in Midsomer Norton to gain access to the field behind - the earmarked site for the new housing development.

The planning application garnered 150 objections - with one person branding it “immoral.”

Somerset Council granted planning permission for the new homes on Tuesday, May 7, but B&NES Council has refused to allow Curo permission to demolish the two homes. Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee made their near-unanimous decision to refuse Curo’s plans on Wednesday, June 5.

The road built through where 26 and 28 Orchard Vale currently stand would have been the only access to the 54-home development. Westfield Labour Councillor Eleanor Jackson said: “The access is deeply worrying because it is inadequate. And at a time of a climate emergency we shouldn’t be demolishing houses unnecessarily.”

Deborah Plummer, who lives nearby, had also warned the committee: “By knocking these two houses down you will be creating a road for children to cross when they currently have a safe route to take to school via the pavement.”

The 54 homes would have included 18 affordable homes, but the vast majority would go to people on Somerset Council’s housing waiting list, with just two of the affordable homes ring-fenced for people on Bath and North East Somerset Council’s waiting list, to replace the two demolished.

Shaun Hughes, Independent Councillor for Midsomer Norton North, has been vocal about his distain for this development since the plans were first submitted by Curo in 2022.

Speaking to The Journal, Cllr Hughes said: “This is a great result, and I would like to thank all the residents who took time to write objections and for everyone that made it to the committee meeting on Wednesday. It was an amazing turnout and shows that together we really can make a difference.

“I am pleased that the committee concluded that this development is wholly unsuitable for numerous reasons and destruction of such a rich natural habitat at a time of an ecological emergency is clearly inappropriate.

“Sadly Curo continue to ignore residents and are appealing the decision, we will continue to fight against this development.”