Nearly 40 new homes could soon be built on one of the busiest main roads in Bridgwater town centre.

Lighthouse Development Consulting has put forward initial proposals – known as a screening request – to build 50 new homes on the former Henry W. Pollard & Sons Ltd. site on the A38 Monmouth Street.

After this screening request was approved in March 2023, Pollards Yard Ltd. has published detailed plans for the site, reducing the number of dwellings down to 39.

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the new proposals later in the year.

The brownfield site lies on the eastern side of the A38, just north of the junction with the A372 St. John’s Street and Eastover, which was recently upgraded at a cost of around £2m.

Henry W. Pollard & Sons Ltd., which was founded in 1860, ceased trading and entered voluntary liquidation on July 8, 2021 at a cost of around 40 jobs.

The developer – which is based in Taunton – intends to demolish the buildings surrounding the former builders yard, with the planned properties wrapping around existing homes on Monmouth Street.

A total of 33 properties will be created within the existing footprint, with a further six homes being created from the conversion of existing, viable buildings within the site.

A small children’s play area will also be provided near the centre of the proposed development.

The properties will all be two- or three-bedroom dwellings, with 62 car parking spaces being provided and electric vehicle charging points being fitted throughout the site.

But due to the cost of redeveloping the brownfield site (such as the demolition work and removing any contaminated soil), only one of the new homes will be affordable.

A spokesman for Lighthouse Development Consulting (representing the developer) said: “The proposals represent a very high quality development which will enhance the character of the local area, reinforce locally distinctive characteristics, knit perfectly into the local scale and form of development that characterises Eastover, make an efficient use of the land available and provide a high level of amenity for future residents.

“The proposals represent a highly sustainable regeneration of a previously developed site that is strongly encouraged and prioritised by planning policy.”

The site lies within a stone’s throw of the Celebration Mile, which runs between Bridgwater railway station and the Northgate Docks via the town centre.

Three sections of this route will be delivered by the council later in the year as part of the Bridgwater town deal, using £9m of central government funding.

The plans have drawn a mixed reaction from Bridgwater residents, with locals being divided over the design and quantity of the new homes.

Mr R. Cavanagh, who lives on Monmouth Street, said: “The houses look very nice from what I have seen and the addition of a play area is welcome for the children. I wish them the best of luck with this development.”

Mrs P. Prowse, who lives on the neighbouring Polden Street, disagreed: “This represents over-development of the site and will be out of character with the established area.

“It will significantly reduce our amenity and existing enjoyment of our property, replacing openness with a poorly designed development that will raise overlooking, overshadowing and domination concerns, alongside noise and light disturbance.”

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the plans by the summer.

It is not presently clear whether this decision will be made in public by its planning committee north (which handles major applications in the former Sedgemoor area) or through the delegated powers of its planning officers.