Plans to knock down a group of industrial buildings described as a ‘festering boil’ in a Somerset town have been voted down over concerns about the demolition of a historic brewery.

The plans would have seen several disused industrial units — controversially including a historic former brewery — in Midsomer Norton knocked down to allow the future creation of new buildings on the site.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee delayed making a decision on whether to grant planning permission for the scheme when the plans first came before them in July, choosing instead to postpone so members of the committee could visit the site for themselves.

But, meeting again on 23rd August, the committee voted to refuse planning permission for the proposals, going against the recommendation of the council’s planning officers.

Midsomer Norton Real Estates had sought permission to clear the site and replace the old Welton, Bibby and Baron factory buildings with new landscaping. Station Road, which runs alongside the site and currently only has a narrow pavement on one side, would have its pavement widened, with another new pavement on the other side of the road, as well as new pedestrian crossings.

But the works to the road would necessitate the demolition of a nineteenth century former brewery on the road, which is a non–designated heritage asset. The façade of the building would have been rebuilt to keep some of the character of the road, although to a reduced height.

Midsomer Norton town councillor Mike Moxham was one of several people to address the packed meeting, urging members of the committee not turn down the plans in order to save the brewery building. He said: “The brewery is of very limited heritage value. I worked in there 40 years ago. Nobody was allowed in there then.”

He said: “Being on the site visit with you all a couple of weeks ago, I think its just plain and obvious that it needs to be done. […] It is a bad end of the town. It’s a disgusting end of the town. It needs to be brought up to standard.”

Michael Auton, one of the two councillors for Midsomer Norton North on Bath and North East Somerset Council, also urged councillors to approve the plans. He said: “If this enabling application is rejected by the planning committee today, we will be unable to improve safety for pedestrians along Station Road and it will continue to be a danger for walkers and mobile wheelchair users.”

But Jane Lewis, a former councillor on both the town council and Bath and North East Somerset Council, told the council that it would go against their planning policies to demolish the brewer.

She said: “Carbon emissions caused by demolition and rebuild are higher than those generated by retention and reuse. A single wall elevation is the worst of both worlds: removal of a heritage asset and no functional building considered for re-use or replacement.”

Opening the debate between members of the committee, councillor Shaun Hughes, who also represents Midsomer Norton North, said he understood the feelings of both sides.

Mr Hughes said: “There is a frustration because we are about to start work on the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone on a greenfield site when we have a brownfield site here in Midsomer Norton doing nothing. So I understand the frustration.

“I also understand the comments from residents who feel this is an important building. It may not be a pretty building but than industrial heritage isn’t necessarily pretty. […] But is 180 years old and it does reflect a very important part of Midsomer Norton’s history.

He warned that, with no plans yet submitted for what could be built on the site, there were “too many unknowns.” He added: “If you demolish the heritage buildings you are left, potentially, with a just a very bland generic housing estate that doesn’t truly reflect Midsomer Norton or Welton.”

Councillor Paul Crossley, however, argued that planning permission should be accepted. To applause from members of the public, he said: “We have got an unsuitable pavement, we have got a number of pedestrians, and we have got a proposal to widen that pavement and actually in addition put another pavement on the other side.

“What’s not to love? It’s a fantastic proposal.”

But a proposal to grant planning permission was voted down, with councillors instead voting to refuse planning permission on the grounds that it would demolish a non-designated heritage asset.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson, who seconded the motion to refuse planning permission, said: “The applicant could come in within six months with a modified application and that might very well address the problems.”

LDRS, John Wimperis