A village primary school will get land to expand if plans for 49 homes are given the go-ahead.
Previous plans for 85 homes on land north of Greenhill Road in Sandford were dismissed on appeal and a scaled back application was later withdrawn. Stonewood Partnerships has tried to address past issues with the latest proposals for the 2.5-hectare site.
It said in its outline application: “The illustrative masterplan submitted in support of this application shows a significant reduction in proposed housing numbers, a change to the red line boundary, an educational building, school land and the provision of further green infrastructure.
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“The number of dwellings has been reduced from 78 to 49. Further design refinements ensure that this comprehensively reviewed application will deliver a sensitive and integrated response to the site and surrounding properties.”
The developer plans to transfer half a hectare of land to Sandford Primary School so it can expand and keep a similar area as green space. Dismissing the previous appeal, the inspector gave limited weight to the gift of land to the school because its expansion was not a necessity at the time.
In line with North Somerset Council policy, 15 of the homes in the revised scheme will be affordable. The inspector gave the provision of affordable housing great weight but said the development would perpetuate unsustainable travel from a “relatively small and poorly served village”.
Stonewood’s application argues that the site is accessible and sustainable and its development would provide much needed new homes. It said: “The scheme will deliver a new high-quality extension to the existing community that responds to its setting whilst embracing modern best practice design standards.”
The council will consider the application.
