Plans to create a new orchard near the M5 as part of a new housing development have been scrapped in favour of alternative mitigation. West of England Developments (Taunton) Ltd. is currently constructing the Coronation Way housing estate, comprising 28 homes on Derham Close in Creech St. Michael, north of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.
The detailed plans for the site (which were approved in August 2023) included the creation of a new orchard to separate the homes from the busy motorway, helping to offset the phosphates generated from the development. But the developer has now negotiated alternative phosphate mitigation for the site with Somerset Council – meaning not a single tree of the planned orchard will be planted.
Creech St. Michael lies within the River Tone catchment area, meaning that any developer must provide additional mitigation to prevent any net increase in phosphates within the Somerset Levels and Moors (which are protected under the international Ramsar convention). To address this, the developer will carry out “off-site non-mains drainage upgrades”, meaning that “the orchard planting to the west of the proposed housing site will no longer be required”.
These upgrades will comprise the replacement of four septic tanks in the former Taunton Deane area with package treatment plants, which allow certain quantities of phosphates to be removed before they enter the main sewage system for further processing. The septic tanks being upgraded are located at domestic properties in Durston, Thurlbear, Wellington and West Buckland.
A spokesman for RMA Environmental Ltd. (representing the developer) said: “The total remaining benefit from the septic tank replacements are 4.63 kg per year, which is more than sufficient to offset the 4kg per year of phosphates arising from the proposed development of 28 dwellings at Creech St. Michael. Therefore, the proposed development will have no significant effect on the status of the Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site.”
(Image: Daniel Mumby)
Somerset Council approved this change to the plans through the delegated powers of its planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee west.
The council is expected to make a decision shortly on plans for a new solar farm on the remaining land between the Coronation Way homes and the M5, which were put forward by Crewkerne-based firm Solar South West UK Ltd. in March 2024.
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