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Mead Realisations Ltd appealed against the council’s decision, made in July 2022, not to grant permission to build up to 75 houses on land at Lynchmead Farm, Ebdon Road in Wick St Lawrence near Weston-super-Mare.
The council’s decision had been made largely due to the risk of flooding to the area in the future, aligned to its Local Plan 2024-2039 which is currently in preparation.
The conclusion to uphold the council’s decision, and dismiss the appeal, was made following a three-day inquiry carried out by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.
The Planning Inspector said that “development should not be permitted if there are reasonably available sites appropriate for the proposed development in areas with a lower risk of flooding” and that [they] “found that there are such sequentially preferable sites available”.
The Inspector added that “the proposal would conflict with the development plan when taken as a whole, and that it would also conflict with national planning policy on minimising flood risk to new development.”
Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s executive member for planning policy, said: “I’m pleased that the determination of the inquiry has supported the council in this case. It also shows support for our strategy to minimise development on areas at risk of flooding, which is a key priority within our emerging Local Plan.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank officers from across the council for the work that went into this, not least the experts who gave evidence at the inquiry.”
More information about the council’s Local Plan can be found on its website at https://n-somerset.gov.uk/localplan.