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LAND NORTH OF COSSINGTON LANE
WOOLAVINGTON
Thank you for taking the time
to visit our website.
Bloor Homes is preparing a planning application for residential development on land north of Cossington Lane, Woolavington.
The intention is to submit an outline planning application to Somerset Council for the construction of up to 150 dwellings, public open space, including areas of play, associated infrastructure and vehicle, pedestrian and cycle connections.
This website provides an opportunity to consider the emerging proposals and to submit comments which will be taken into account as the proposals are finalised and the planning application submitted.
Once submitted to Somerset Council, there will be further opportunities for comment via the Council’s own consultation process.
Details on how to submit comments are provided at the bottom of this webpage.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website.
Bloor Homes is preparing a planning application for residential development on land north of Cossington Lane, Woolavington.
The intention is to submit an outline planning application to Somerset Council for the construction of up to 150 dwellings, public open space, including areas of play, associated infrastructure and vehicle, pedestrian and cycle connections.
This website provides an opportunity to consider the emerging proposals and to submit comments which will be taken into account as the proposals are finalised and the planning application submitted.
Once submitted to Somerset Council, there will be further opportunities for comment via the Council’s own consultation process.
Details on how to submit comments are provided at the bottom of this webpage.
THE SITE
The site comprises approximately 6.4 hectares (15.8 acres) of land currently in agricultural use located at the eastern edge of Woolavington.
The southern boundary is defined by Cossington Lane with the western boundary following the edge of existing residential development served be Southfield Close and frontage on to Woolavington Hill (B3141).
The northern boundary is defined by an existing field hedgerow beyond which lies agricultural land which abuts Combe Lane further north. To the east the site is bounded by agricultural fields extending into open countryside to the northeast, with employment areas to the south east. The site is located entirely with Flood Zone 1, the lowest risk of flooding.
Woolavington is classified within the Sedgemoor Local Plan as a Tier 2 settlement, being a rural settlement which has a good range of services that meets the needs of both the settlement itself, but also its rural hinterland. Tier 2 settlements are identified as locations for some levels of growth, which enhance and sustain their role as service centres for the local community.
The site at Cossington Lane is less than 2 miles in distance from the Agratas battery facility which is bringing significant investment to the area. The proposals represent a major change for Woolavington, and its ability to support additional sustainable development opportunities, particularly noting the increase in employment that the site will provide during the construction phase and once it is fully operational. An update to Somerset residents regarding the Agratas proposal can be found here.
The site was the subject of two previous applications for up to 125 dwellings. Whilst these applications were refused, the context within which the proposals for development were previously advanced has materially changed.
Recent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework have significantly increased the Local Housing Need for Somerset and this requires all Council’s to plan positively to meet this increased need in locations which are appropriate and sustainable.
It is also the case that there is a significant housing land supply shortfall for this area. Therefore, the starting point for the determination of applications must be that there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development, unless it can be demonstrated that the adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.
In light of this, alongside the wider strategic context, with a specific regard to the Agratas major employment site, it is considered that Woolavington is now well-placed to support new residential development and that this site provides a genuine opportunity to meet identified needs in a sustainable location.
The site is now being promoted by Bloor Homes for up to 150 dwellings taking into consideration the recent planning reforms and the significant shortall in housing delivery within Somerset.
Should the site gain planning approval, it is anticipated that the site can be delivered within a 5-year timeframe to address this immediate housing need.
MASTERPLAN
The masterplan design for the site has been informed by a carefully considered response to the site’s existing features and its wider context in the landscape. Our analysis has allowed us to prepare a Constraints and Opportunities Plan which forms the basis of our emerging proposals.
Based on our understanding of the site constraints and opportunities we have produced an initial concept plans which sets out the pattern of development the and the key features of the proposed development, including areas of open space, including areas of play, space for drainage features and the protection of site boundaries.
TECHNICAL APPROACH
Technical survey work and site investigations are underway which will inform the development scheme in order deliver a sustainable pattern of development that has appropriate regard to known constraints and opportunities.
A range of technical reports and site surveys are underway and will be submitted as part of the planning application. This includes:
- Flood Risk Assessment / Drainage Strategy
- Ecological Surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain
- Landscape and Visual Appraisal
- Heritage Assessment
- Highway capacity analysis
- Noise and Air Quality Assessment
- Travel Plan / Transport Assessment
DRAINAGE & FLOOD RISK
The site is located within Flood Zone 1 where residential development is considered acceptable from a flood risk point of view.
Our approach is designed to ensure both efficiency and environmental sustainability. For surface water, the proposed Sustainable Drainage Strategy will capture/store run off before this is discharged into existing water course at a controlled rate.
For foul drainage, the proposals will connect into the existing sewer network.
Drainage features on site will form part of the wider open space, green infrastructure network. Opportunities to integrate drainage features to deliver ecological enhancements will also be considered as the proposals are finalised.
Flood risk and drainage considerations do not represent a constraint to the development of this site and will not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
The proposed development will incorporate measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the development through sustainable construction measures, including:
- Improved energy efficiency through careful building siting, design and orientation
- PV (Photo Voltaics)
- Sustainable Drainage systems (SUDs)
- Fabric efficiency in the design of buildings
- Use of building materials capable of being recycled
- An element of construction waste reduction and recycling
- Lighting controls
- Electric vehicle charging, and
- Reduction in water usage
TRANSPORT & ACCESS
The proposal and impact on the highway network has been assessed by our transport consultants concluding that the site is well placed to provide additional housing without resulting in unacceptable impacts on the existing road network.
It is proposed that vehicular access will be provided from a new priority junction on Cossington Lane. It has been demonstrated that an access can be provided to achieve the visibility splays required by observed speeds on Cossington Lane, which is currently subject to a 60mph speed limit. An existing 30mph zone located circa 90m to the west of the site access is proposed to be extended eastwards, past the site frontage, to adjoin a separate existing 30mph zone circa 400m to the east of the site.
The site is well located to support sustainable movement patters and access to services and facilities currently available at Woolavington.
LANDSCAPE & HERITAGE
There are no designated built heritage assets within the site or in its immediate vicinity. The historic core of Woolavington lies north-north-west of the site and contains several Listed buildings, which are screened from the site by existing residential development areas.
In respect of archaeology, site investigations demonstrate that any archaeological remains existing within the site are not of such significance that this would preclude the development as proposed..
The proposed development retains the majority of existing vegetation present on the site, which is focused on the site boundaries. Whilst the proposals will necessitate some removal to facilitate vehicular access, the development has been informed by an extensive assessment of landscape character and sensitivities and provides for a significant scale of landscape enhancements.
A tree survey has confirmed that the majority of tree and hedgerow cover is of low arboricultural value. Therefore, through the proposed development there are opportunities to deliver significant enhancements as part of a comprehensive planned landscape and green infrastructure strategy.
ECOLOGY
In preparing the proposals for development at this site, specific regard has been given to the existing ecological conditions of the site alongside the landscape and visual sensitivity. This has included baseline ecological surveys and recommendations of ecological design measures to input into the detailed design stages to maximise ecological benefits across the site.
As land which is currently in agricultural use, the majority of the site has limited biodiversity value, with the main areas of ecological interests located on the site boundaries which are to be retained as part of the proposed development. Overall, it is concluded that:
- There are no significant or 'in principle' ecological constraints to the future development of the site, and the habitats and species that it currently supports are considered of low biodiversity and nature conservation value;
- All other potential/actual constraints which are present can be readily addressed through further development of the sensitive design demonstrated by the Concept Masterplan;
- The scheme design has sought to retain and incorporate existing features of interest within the proposed green infrastructure;
- Future development is capable of delivering significant environmental enhancements including biodiversity net gain, through the creation of new habitats on the site, including planting of new hedgerows and species-rich grassland.
AIR QUALITY & NOISE
Our noise survey analysis shows that the site is suitable for residential development.
Development to the south of the site, near to Cossington Lane, is likely to require some modest mitigation to ensure the internal and external noise levels are within acceptable standards. This will be informed by the final plot position, boundary treatments and glazing standards. Overall, noise does not represent a constraint to the development proposed.
Air quality analysis demonstrates that the impact of the proposed development on existing residents and future occupiers will not result in any adverse effects or negative impact on living conditions.
Thank you for taking the time
to consider our proposals
Bloor Homes invites you to review the proposals and provide your feedback so that this can be taken into account as the planning application is finalised and submitted to Somerset Council. Please complete our Feedback Form via this website. Alternatively, you can email your comments to us at info@landatcossingtonlane.co.uk. We are inviting comments on the proposals until the 21st May 2025.
