36 houses on land at 'severe' flood risk from River Parrett

Revised plans have been submitted by Chapel Estates Ltd, on behalf of Bristol based 3C Commercial Ltd, to erect 36 houses and a two-storey office building on land of the former Somerset Bridge Primary School. Plans were originally first submitted in 2019.

The site is accessed along a narrow private road at Hamp Bridge, which traverses the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and eventually ends at a pedestrian pathway leading to Squibbers Way.

If permission is granted, the three-hectare site would see 36 detached houses constructed, each complete with garaging and off-street parking. The development would also see a two-storey building providing 840 square metres of office space and an open space play area.

Bridgwater Town Council has expressed its opposition to the proposal, which has “no affordable homes” and has the potential to cause traffic problems at the junction on the A38 Taunton Road.

The Environment Agency are also opposed to the development, stating that the site “has a severe residual flood risk from an overtopping/breach in defences from the River Parrett.”

The statutory body has warned that it’s own flood warning system “would likely be redundant in such an event”, and that residents’ only means of escape through Hamp Bridge road would “likely become inundated with flood waters.”

The Canal and River Trust, which owns the bridge providing the only access vehicular the site, has stated that the applicant “has not served notice on the Trust nor discussed possible implications regarding the use of the bridge.”

The Trust proceeded to comment that, as the vertical alignment of the bridge is “quite severe”, it may not be suitable for longer vehicles, including those potentially used in the construction process.

The earliest a decision date can be made is December 12, 2024. To read more about the application, visit Somerset Council's planning portal using reference: 37/22/00008.