Curo’s proposals to develop houses on Underhill Lane in Midsomer Norton have been resubmitted to planning officials.

Underhill Lane is situated within the Bath and North East Somerset Council area, but the site is one of three within Mendip’s Local Plan Part II, hence a planning application has been submitted to Somerset Council.

Somerset East and Bath and North East Somerset planning committees both refused the last planning application that Curo submitted, but the housing developer has lodged an appeal against this refusal.

According to the planning application, which can be viewed on Bath and North East Somerset Council’s website, Curo wants to demolish number 26 and 28 Orchard Vale and replace them with the 54 new homes with open space, landscaping and all associated infrastructure.

Curo said in a statement: “We remain keen to work with both local authorities to secure permission for this revised application at a local level and will continue to progress this in the hope that we can avoid the additional time and costs associated with an appeal for all parties.

“Nevertheless, one of our primary aims as a not-for-profit housing association is to contribute towards addressing the housing crisis in the South West and for this reason, we have opted to lodge an appeal.  

“We believe the decision made by the local planning authority failed to take into account the acute shortage of housing in the former Mendip area and key aspects of the application relating to infrastructure”.

It’s understood that the respective planning boards were concerned about the potential increase in patient sign-ups at Oakhill Surgery, but Curo argued that both Somerton House Surgery and St Chads Surgery would be within the catchment area for the new homes.

Concerns were also raised about the ‘lack of sustainability’; the planning committee were particularly worried about secondary school pupils travelling to school by bus. Curo said that similar, recent planning applications, such as the approved White Post housing plans, were deemed acceptable by the local council and inspector.

Councillor Shaun Hughes has opposed the plans since Curo first submitted them back in July 2022. He said: “Curo claims to be solving a housing crisis, however, they are not acknowledging the fact that the site was removed from the Somerset Local Plan during a judicial review by a High Court Judge, Somerset Council have removed this site from their Local Plan and intend to achieve the 505 homes without Underhill Lane.

“Bath and North East Somerset Council are currently consulting on building more than 2,500 additional homes in our area. Neither Somerton House Surgery or St Chad’s have the capacity to take these residents on as patients, and it is not sustainable to expect children to commute to Wells to school as detailed in the application.

“Even though we probably expected this it is hugely disappointing, especially from a company such as Curo who should be community-based and are fully aware of the pressures our medical and dental service are under.

“They are undoubtedly pushing to take advantage of weakness within Somerset Council and their lack of a five-year land supply. It should be clear to them that this development is not wanted by Somerset Council, B&NES Council or the residents of Midsomer Norton.”

The planning application can be viewed on Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning website, https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/webforms/planning/, by searching the reference 24/00662/FUL.

Curo’s planning application to Somerset Council has been referred to their planning committee and is set to be heard on the May 7, 2024.