The fate of controversial plans for 66 homes on a former orchard in Yatton will not be decided for another two months.
Councillor Jill Iles said there still were too many unanswered questions about Persimmon Homes’ proposals for the site off Moor Road and claimed a farmer could be able to help address the contentious access issues.
The application, first submitted in 2016, has been met with more than 230 objections, with concerns ranging from the “excessive” scale and the resulting increased traffic, to the impact on a rare fungus.
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Yatton resident Judith Cockram asked North Somerset Council’s planning and regulatory committee on Wednesday: “Should you really impose more development on an already overburdened Yatton and consider the opinion of a speculative developer of more importance than that of Yatton residents?
“Councillors need to take a holistic view of all the Yatton developments and Persimmon needs to wait for the rugby club plans.
“I urge you to refuse this application.”
Yatton’s neighbourhood plan will go to a referendum tomorrow to determine whether it is adopted by the village. Ms Cockram told the meeting the orchard had been designated in the document as a local green space but it was removed by the planning inspector at the last minute after a “cynical intervention” by Persimmon.
A report to the committee said Natural England had objected to the main access route being through the orchard, but it accepted that there was no viable alternative.
Planning officers explored an option of getting to the site through the adjacent rugby club, and said it is “actively exploring” the development of its own ground - but Persimmon had opposed that option because it could be “ransomed” for the access.
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The officers said it could also take several years for the rugby club’s application to be approved and implemented.
They recommended approval of the Persimmon scheme.
Representing the developer, Josh Ashwin said part of the Moor Road site had been allocated for housing in a North Somerset Council plan and it was available and deliverable, unlike the rugby club land.
He said the development would secure the long-term future of the orchard, with numerous new trees planted.
Persimmon’s original plans were revised to remove five homes and a path from the orchard, which is home to a rare tree fungus. The proposals include 20 affordable homes.
Yatton Parish Council said there were still “fundamental issues” with the application.
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Yatton ward member Cllr Iles said: "We're trying to safeguard this area and the listed building (the Grange).
"The more we look at this, the more unanswered questions there are.
"I would like to bring forward another access route. I've been in talks with the farmer (of the adjacent land), who is more than willing to talk to Persimmon. It will give better visibility to the site. I want the developer to explore it."
Cllr Tom Leimdorfer backed the deferral, saying: "We're being rushed into this. There are planning permissions where nothing happens for well over a year. I don't see the urgency for this with all the houses being built.
“This would destroy what is a pleasant rural aspect of Yatton. I would like to see this application refused."
He said he would like to see Persimmon and the rugby club collaborate to deliver better quality results and a scheme that avoids going through the orchard.
Cllr David Shopland denied that the orchard existed, and it was "ridiculous" to deny permission over some newly planted trees.
He added: “We are perpetuating narrow roads. No one seems to care about that.
“This is a continuation of the council’s disastrous housing policy - anything, anywhere, any time. I can’t support it.”
Members voted to defer their decision for two months.
