North Planning Committee Unanimously Defers 750-Home Bridgewater Development Over Housing Concerns

Other Committee · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Somerset's North Planning Committee unanimously deferred a 750-home hybrid planning application for land east of Bower Lane in Bridgewater, refusing to endorse the officer recommendation to approve the scheme pending a renegotiation of Section 106 obligations. The application, reference 09/23/00003, would deliver the final phase of the East Bridgewater strategic allocation under Local Plan Policy B3, including a spine road linking the A39 Bath Road to Western Zoyland Road, a primary school site, and a community facility. Despite an independently verified viability assessment showing abnormal construction costs of approximately 31 million pounds, members were unwilling to accept the proposed 5 percent affordable housing offer, equating to around 38 units against a policy requirement of 225.

Somerset ICB had requested approximately 416,000 pounds for GP surgery capacity but was excluded from the Section 106 after failing to identify specific qualifying projects. Councillor Bruce proposed and Councillor LaBruce seconded a deferral directing officers to consult the NHS on a project-specific contribution and to rebalance the financial obligations to maximise affordable housing, with the matter to return to a formal committee meeting in no fewer than three months.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,869 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.