PLANS to build 1,300 homes in Burnham-on-Sea are 'unlikely to proceed for at least 15 years' due to concerns over flooding, a councillor has claimed.

On Wednesday at a Sedgemoor District Council meeting about the district council's Local Plan, councillors and representatives from the Environment Agency raised concerns about developing two sites on Stoddens Road.

In 2015, Sedgemoor District Council identified land to the north of Stoddens Road as one of five locations for new housing as part of their Local Plan.

In their core strategy published in 2015, the council said 300 homes could be built on the site and a further 1,000 homes could be built on land on the street stretching up to Brent Road.

But Cllr Phil Harvey, town councillor for Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, attended the meeting and said the Environment Agency said they would oppose plans for development on the site as no work has been done to deal with flooding.

"Evidence was taken from Sedgemoor officers, the Environment Agency and Highway Agency and a consultant representing the owner of land north of Stoddens Road," Cllr Harvey said.

"An inspector considered each site under a variety of headings such as ecology, sustainability, viability - about 12 categories in all.

"The Environment Agency said they would oppose the Stoddens Road development as no work has been done on dealing with the risks of flooding in this area and they have no plans or funds to do any in the foreseeable future."

Cllr Harvey said he thinks it is 'very unlikely' the Stoddens Road site will be developed. 

"The planning inspector said new sites like the one north of Stoddens Road would only be considered if the sites already in the plan cannot be delivered within the plan period which runs until 2032," Cllr Harvey said.

"I think it is very unlikely that the land north of Stoddens Road will be developed, however it is the planning inspector who will have the final say."

The Weekly News has contacted the Environment Agency for a comment.