Ashley Fox MP has written to the Government supporting the call for the 750-home Bower Lane development in Bridgwater to be called in for review by the Secretary of State.
Somerset Council’s Planning Committee approved the application earlier this month, despite concerns over the level of affordable housing, pressure on local GP services, education provision and the impact of additional traffic on Bridgwater’s road network.
Following the decision, CPRE Somerset asked the Secretary of State to call in the application. A holding direction has since been issued, preventing Somerset Council from granting final planning permission while the Government considers whether the application should be called in.
Ashley Fox has now written to the National Planning Casework Unit backing that request. In his letter, he argues that the concerns surrounding affordable housing, healthcare, education and transport have not been satisfactorily addressed and are significant enough to warrant independent examination.
Ashley Fox MP said:
“I support appropriate housing development in Bridgwater, but new homes must come with the infrastructure needed to support them.
I remain concerned that this development does not provide enough affordable housing or adequately address the pressures it will place on our GP surgeries, schools and roads.
I welcome the decision for the Secretary of State to review the application and have written to the Government supporting the call for it to be called in.”
