PLANS have been submitted to Somerset Council with hopes to create new flats at a 'petty crime hotspot' in Bridgwater town centre.
Axeus Homes Ltd has applied to knock down existing buildings on Blake Street and erect a new building containing two new flats and two shops.
The applicant hopes to demolish the existing workshop, brick built toilet block and clear the site at 3 Blake Street which borders Blake Gardens, before erecting a new building on the land.
It is proposed that the commercial/retail units on the ground floor of the new building would be situated at the same level as Blake Gardens, which in turn would reduce the overall height of the development.
If plans are approved, a one-bedroom flat and a two-bedroom flat would be built above two commercial/retail units residing on the ground floor of the proposed building.
The new flats would be finished in brick and render with a curved steel roof to keep the potential impact on the listed building as minimal as possible.
The design of the building is described by the applicant as 'unashamedly modern', with plans to finish the building in brick but also include a traditional Bridgwater clay pantile roof structure.
The applicant states that the area surrounding the existing workshop building has been identified as 'a hotspot for petty crime', particularly drug and alcohol abuse, meaning visitors to Blake Gardens tend to avoid that part, particularly in the summer months when the issue is at its worst.
Former Sedgemoor District Council Urban Designer Stuart Martin was reportedly keen to see the area redeveloped in order to combat the ongoing problem.
In the application, the developer wrote: "A good level of perceived and real surveillance is achieved through balconies and principal windows overlooking the park.
"This should dramatically reduce the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse in this area of the park.
"The new flats and retails units will bring a new level of activity and visual interest to this area of the park, and represents a substantial improvement in the visual amenity over the existing corrugated metal shed."
For more information on the application, search reference number 08/24/00047 on Somerset Council's online planning portal.
Public consultation on the plans is now open, and comments are welcomed until Monday, May 21 - approval could be given from the following day.
Sedgemoor planning round-up
The following planning applications were received by Somerset Council between April 19 and April 26.
For more details, and to comment on applications, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/planning-buildings-and-land.
Application Number: 02/24/00009
Parish/Town Council: Axbridge
Type: Works to Trees in Conservation Area
Location: Park House, St Marys Street, Axbridge, BS26 2BN
Proposal: Reduce crown of 1No. Tulip (T1) to approx previous pruning points
Application Number: 04/24/00004
Parish/Town Council: Bawdrip
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Kings Farm, 10 Eastside Lane, Bawdrip, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 8QB
Proposal: Erection of a rear (South) single-storey extension.
Application Number: 08/24/00030
Parish/Town Council: Bridgwater
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: 27 Ashleigh Avenue, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 6AU
Proposal: Change of use from a licensed 6 bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO) to a 7 bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO).
Application Number: 08/24/00047
Parish/Town Council: Bridgwater
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: 3 Blake Street, Bridgwater, Somerset
Proposal: Erection of a building containing 1no. one-bed flat, 1no. two-bed flat and 2no. commercial/retail units, on site of existing (to be demolished).
Application Number: 08/24/00072
Parish/Town Council: Bridgwater
Type: Cert. of Lawfulness for Proposed Use/Dev
Location: 95B Wembdon Road, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 7PJ
Proposal: Certificate of Lawfulness for the proposed loft conversion with a rooflight on (East) elevation and small porch on (North) elevation.
Application Number: 11/24/00025
Parish/Town Council: Burnham & Highbridge
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Unit 4, Works 22, Bennett Road, Highbridge, TA9 4PW
Proposal: Change of use of an office building to veterinary practice, including minor external changes to doors, windows and the installation of an external lift, an external gas storage unit, external plant, and dog walking area.
Application Number: 55/24/00003
Parish/Town Council: Burtle
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Greystones, Burtle Road, Burtle, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 8NB
Proposal: Occupation of the dwelling known as 'Greystones' in non-compliance of the joint agricultural occupancy condition applied as condition 3 of planning permission 55/01/0008.
Application Number: 13/23/00030
Parish/Town Council: Cannington
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Bradley Green Stables, Blackmore Lane, Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 2NE
Proposal: Retention of a mobile home to be used as a residential dwelling.
Application Number: 17/24/00016
Parish/Town Council: Cheddar
Type: Outline Planning Permission
Location: Elmsfield, Tuttors Hill, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3JQ
Proposal: Outline planning permission for the erection of a self-build dwelling.
Application Number: 17/24/00019
Parish/Town Council: Cheddar
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Longreach, Axbridge Road, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3DB
Proposal: Erection of a two-storey and single-storey rear (North) extension and detached carport.
Application Number: 17/24/00020
Parish/Town Council: Cheddar
Type: Works to Trees in Conservation Area
Location: Church Farm House, Church Street, Cheddar, Somerset, BS27 3RF
Proposal: Fell 1No. Holly (H1)
Application Number: 19/24/00003
Parish/Town Council: Chilton Polden
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Broadfields, Scrubbitts Lane, Chilton Polden, Bridgwater, TA7 9EJ
Proposal: Erection of single-storey open store on a concrete base.
Application Number: 21/23/00016
Parish/Town Council: Compton Bishop
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Peak Barn, Webbington Road, Compton Bishop, Axbridge, Somerset, BS26 2HW
Proposal: Retrospective application for the mixed use of Shepherds Hut as holiday let and ancillary residential accommodation.
Application Number: 21/24/00002
Parish/Town Council: Compton Bishop
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: The Stable House, Old Coach Road, Cross, Axbridge, Somerset, BS26 2EF
Proposal: Erection of a single-storey extension to the rear (South) elevation.
Application Number: 32/24/00001
Parish/Town Council: Lyng
Type: Cert. of Lawfulness for Proposed Use/Dev
Location: The Dell, Outwood, Taunton, TA3 5AJ
Proposal: Certificate of Lawfulness for the proposed erection of an implement shed.
Application Number: 33/24/00004
Parish/Town Council: Mark
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Larches Barn, The Causeway, Mark, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4QF
Proposal: Erection of single-story rear North extension with 2No. rooflights.
Application Number: 44/24/00005
Parish/Town Council: Shipham
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Flat, The Old Rectory, Rowberrow Lane, Winscombe, Somerset, BS25 1QL
Proposal: Change of use of coach house accommodation to a holiday cottage, the addition of a link extension to the swimming pool block, further extensions to the coach house along with internal and external alterations including new roofs and solar panels.
Application Number: 44/24/00006
Parish/Town Council: Shipham
Type: Listed Building Consent - alterations
Location: Flat, The Old Rectory, Rowberrow Lane, Rowberrow, Winscombe, Somerset, BS25 1QL
Proposal: Change of use of coach house accommodation to a holiday cottage, the addition of a link extension to the swimming pool block, further extensions to the coach house along with internal and external alterations including new roofs and solar panels.
Application Number: 46/24/00003
Parish/Town Council: Stawell
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Land adjacent to Longpath Cottage, Moor Road, Sutton Mallet, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7
Proposal: The removal of an existing caravan and the siting of a replacement caravan for holiday lets with associated landscaping.
Application Number: 50/24/00016
Parish/Town Council: Wedmore
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Coldnose House, Coldnose, Bagley, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4TG
Proposal: Proposed Conversion of Existing outbuilding into Guest Annex and Workshop.
Application Number: 50/24/00021
Parish/Town Council: Wedmore
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Land At, Combe Batch, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28
Proposal: Hybrid (full and outline) application. Full application for the erection of 26 No. dwellings and formation of access, associated open space, landscaping, and parking. Outline application with some matters reserved for 4 No. self-build plots.
Application Number: 50/24/00024
Parish/Town Council: Wedmore
Type: Works to Trees in Conservation Area
Location: Bridgwood, Grants Lane, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4EA
Proposal: Crown reduce height/spread of 1No. Apple (T1) by 1.5m all round
List two:
Application Number: 08/24/00046
Parish/Town Council: Bridgwater
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Mecure Bridgwater Hotel, 56-66 Eastover, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 5AR
Proposal: Variation of Condition 2 of Planning Permission Application No. 08/23/00169 (Erection of five storey extension to the West elevation forming 15no. short stay accommodation units and ground floor commercial space.) to amend the approved plans listed in schedule A
Application Number: 24/24/00004
Parish/Town Council: East Brent
Type: Full Planning Permission
Location: Knoll Lodge, Church Road, East Brent, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4HZ
Proposal: Demolition of two-storey brickwork extension with tiled roof, demolition of single-storey lean-to with tiled roof, and erection of conservatory to the rear (North) elevation with aluminum frames and rendered blockwork.
Application Number: 24/24/00005
Parish/Town Council: East Brent
Type: Listed Building Consent - alterations
Location: Knoll Lodge, Church Road, East Brent, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 4HZ
Proposal: Demolition of two-storey brickwork extension with tiled roof, demolition of single-storey lean-to with tiled roof, erection of conservatory to the rear (North) elevation with aluminum frames and rendered blockwork.
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