A decision on plans for new homes in Wells has been delayed after councillors complained about the "very dull" designs of the proposed houses.

Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey submitted joint plans for a total of 220 homes to be built on the city's western edge, near the leisure centre and rugby club and north of the A371.

Outline permission for the development was granted on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate in 2016, making it more likely that the homes would be built.

But Mendip District Council has put back a decision on the fine details, asking the developers to think again on the design and layout of the new homes.

The council's planning board met in Shepton Mallet to discuss the plans on Wednesday evening (July 17).

The outline planning permission commits to the housing being located at the eastern end of the site, with the western end being set aside for public open space.

A legal agreement is already in place governing the delivery of these spaces and other contributions - meaning no new facilities, such as a village hall or a doctors' surgery, can be added at this stage.

Jane Green, who lives with her husband on Wheeler Grove, said their property would be "overshadowed" due to the new homes being built so close to existing dwellings.

She said: "The new builds are closer to our bungalow than any existing property, and will be overbearing for much of the year.

"The site covers a huge area - so why are new builds rammed up against existing homes? Surely the two-and-a-half and three-storey buildings should be located away from the existing properties.

"The proximity of the development to the existing properties will be overbearing and overshadowing."

The proposed layout of the news housing estate off the A371 In Wells

Councillor Laura Waters - whose Wells St Cuthbert's ward includes the site - said some of the proposed properties should be moved to mitigate against the "loss of light, privacy and amenity" for Wheeler Grove residents.

Councillor Steve Henderson raised concerns about the lack of a "buffer zone" between the site and existing houses, as well as how emergency vehicles could access the new streets.

He said: "Why there is so much public space to the west, I don't know - I presume it is something to do with the flood zone.

"There are buffer zones all around the site, and the one place that needs a buffer zone hasn't got one.

"With the emergency access, we've had a situation in Glastonbury where a road at the back of an estate was supposed to be bollarded off, but it wasn't done for three to four years. Residents kicked up a stink and it was used as a rat run. I want that enforced.

"The designs of the houses are pretty dull to my mind. I think a little more imagination could have been used - they look a little old hat to me."

Councillor Tom Killen said there were "many positives" to take from the development, but called on the applicants to think again about the design of the houses.

He said: "This development has been foisted upon us, but we do recognise we have to deliver houses in the district. We are at full employment, businesses are struggling to recruit, and houses will help with that.

"The affordable housing, the layout, the pepper-potting through the site and the buffer are all positives. But I share concerns on the overshadowing and overbearing - it's disappointing that when you've got a scheme of this size and scale that more thought wasn't put into it over the last 12 months.

"My main concern is the housing mix. We haven't got one house which is single-storey. I probably know the housing market in Wells as well as anyone, and the demand for bungalows is very strong in the city.

"I don't think this is the right housing mix that we should be delivering on the edge of Wells. I would like to see this looked at again - that may provide an opportunity to alleviate the issues identified."

Councillor Caroline McKinnell called on Somerset County Council (which has responsibility for highways) to include measures to slow down traffic on the main road through the estate.

She said: "Down this central road, what traffic calming measures will there be? It's a straight road, down the estate, on a hill - it will be a racetrack."

Council leader Ros Wyke said the streets within the proposed development were "particularly dense and repetitive in appearance", and said the plans should be deferred to allow the developers to make the houses "less cookie-cutter".

Councillor Edric Hobbs added: "Some of these houses are very dull. You will see these houses as you walk and drive off the Mendips - they will stick out like a sore thumb if they're not done correctly."

The committee voted unanimously to defer a decision on the plans until October at the latest.

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