Plans for former Greencore factory site at Evercreech refused for a second time, an application for a recreation ground at Leigh on Mendip - and other planning news from in and around Shepton Mallet | Local News | News | Shepton Mallet Nub News

Plans to redevelop a former factory site in Evercreech have been refused for a second time.

West Estates Development Ltd. outline plans to build 120 houses on the former Greencore factory site on the B3081 Prestleigh Road in Evercreech, which closed in October 2018 at a cost of around 400 jobs.

Mendip District Council initially refused the plans in November 2021, prompting the Bristol-based developer to submit alternative proposals for the same number of homes in April 2022.

But this second application has now also been rejected, with the local councillor branding the plans "unsustainable" and urging the developer to come up with better ideas for the site.

The decision to refuse the plans was made by the council's planning officers through their delegated powers, rather than at a public meeting of the planning board.

Julie Reader-Sullivan, the council's head of service for planning and growth, identified the following eight reasons for refusing permission:

The development would result in the loss of employment for the village, failing to "meet the aspirations of the Local Plan and the local community"
The proposals would lead to the "loss of designated heritage assets" and would not contribute positively to "the maintenance and enhancement of local identity and distinctiveness of the area"
The development would result in harm to nearby grade two listed buildings and the Evercreech conservation area
The development's "cramped layout" would result in overlooking between properties, creating an "unacceptable living environment for future residents"
The developer has provided "insufficient information" over how surface water would drain away from the site, meaning the development could increase the risk of localised flooding
The proposals does not include "an appropriate mitigation strategy" to prevent an increase in phosphate levels on the Somerset Levels and Moors
The proposed access points onto the B3081 and Neale's Way would "prejudice highway safety" due to a lack of visibility, while concerns also remain about the internal road layout
The developer has not guaranteed the development will provide contributions to local schools and other community facilities

Councillor Barry O'Leary, whose Creech ward includes the site, has welcomed the ruling, stating on Twitter that the amended plans "only improves things worse" and the developer needed to do some "soul-searching".

He elaborated: "I want to be very clear that I do think that there is not one person in the village against [the site's] redevelopment, but it must be done in a heritage sensitive way – it must include houses and shops and employment.

"We simply cannot go from employment-only to residential-only. [Our] planners recognise it would be unsustainable in terms of the traffic and services impacted.

"In these days of extremes of weather we have seen the problems that our infrastructure faces.

"As I have said all along, the owner needs to realise what the site is suited to, but more importantly is not suited to. We have made advice, expertise and guidance available.

"To keep coming back asking for the same thing again and again just because you 'did not like the answer' isn't really the way forward."

Mr O'Leary, who serves as the council's portfolio holder for enterprise and finance, said he had pushed for the site to be considered as part of a £20m bid to the government's levelling up fund.

The final bid for the Somerton and Frome constituency (which includes Evercreech) is "likely to include regeneration and town centre investment in Frome and Wincanton, alongside some small transport works", with the money being used to support existing regeneration efforts in these two towns.

Mr O'Leary said he hoped rural communities like Evercreech would be prioritised for regeneration under the new unitary Somerset Council, which formally assumes control in April 2023.

He said: "I asked the council to evaluate the site – why not [have] a rural Saxonvale-like development in Evercreech? What better way to signal the value of our primary villages and rural communities?

"The balance of planning and services needs to be tilted towards rural communities to create a circular economy.

"There is a significant danger that local boards under unitary could sideline small, historic, efficient parishes."

The developer has not yet indicated whether it intends to appeal against the Evercreech refusal.