Plans for hundreds of homes and school

HUNDREDS of homes and a school could be built on a swathe of farmland on the outskirts of Bridgwater.

Edward Ware Ltd has put forward proposals to build up to 750 homes, a primary school and community facilities on land on the eastern edge of the town.

The 31.8 hectare site, east of Bower Lane at East Bower, is currently used for agricultural purposes including grazing and the growing of crops.

There are also two farms on the site including Whitegate Farm and Sandpit Farm along with a number of agricultural buildings.

The site is included in the Sedgemoor Local Plan for development.

The overall site – spanning 61 hectares – is earmarked in the blueprint for new housing and a primary school along with community facilities.

The development is part of the planned urban extension on the eastern edge of Bridgwater.

Some development has already been approved on the site including a new special needs school and 38 homes.

Planning has also been secured for a further 298 homes on the site. There is also a planning application submitted for an additional 560 homes on a section of the land known as Follet’s Farm.

The Edward Ware development would see a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes as well as some apartments. The scheme also includes affordable housing.

A new spine road would be created through the development which would link to the A372 at Bower Farm to the A39 Bath Road. A 2.7 hectare section of the site has been allocated for a new primary school.

The land would be provided for the council to deliver the new school.

A new multi-use games area would be provided on land close to the school site. There would also be a number of new play areas and additional planting.

A noise bund would also be created around the site. If approved the work would be carried out in phases.

The first phase would see the creation of the noise bund.

The second, which would take up to 2026 to complete, would include the construction of the new spine road.

This would be followed by the development of homes at Whitegate Farm and open spaces.

Phase four, due to start in 2024, would see the development of Sandpit Farm while the fifth, beginning in 2026, would be the third phase of housing development and open spaces.

The sixth and final phase, in 2025, would be the construction of the school, community facilities and open spaces.