Plans to build 90 homes on Backwell village field submitted

Plans for a 90 home development to be built across a village's green field have been submitted.

Persimmon withdrew previous plans to build 116 homes on Farleigh Fields in Backwell in February, after locals in the village raised concerns.

However, with outline approval granted to build up to 119 homes, a re-designed bid was always expected.

The decision whether to grant planning permission for the project will be made by North Somerset Council.

A spokesperson for Persimmon previously said they had noted the public comments on the council's website, where issues relating to flooding and the outfall, design parameters and landscaping have been raised by local residents.

The developer said the redesign also takes into account feedback from council officers, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) reported.

A cover letter submitted with the application stated that in order to "achieve an improved design", it has "reduced the number of dwellings to 90 units which includes 27 affordable units (30%)".

The development is designed to be fully electric, using air source heat pumps to heat the new homes and infrastructure for EV charging at each home.

However, opposition remains from some locals, with five objections lodged on the council's planning portal and no comments in support.

One person said: "The concerns about the build have not changed. There is still not the infrastructure in the village to support this level of build."

Flooding remained a major concern, despite Persimmon's plans for a pond to aid with drainage.

Another person said: "It is unclear what parts of this application have been addressed and changed since the previous withdrawal of planning application."

Comments on the plans must be made by 19 December.

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