PLANS to convert a former Minehead school into flats and surround it with new houses have been met with scepticism by Minehead Town Council.

Developers want to turn the Grade II listed former Periton Mead school building into 14 flats, while also constructing 17 new homes in the surrounding area.

But at Minehead Town Council’s planning committee meeting on Wednesday, June 14, the members agreed to object to the plans on grounds of overdevelopment, concerns over the flood risk and the effect on the character of the building.

The existing former school building has fallen into a state of disrepair, windows are smashed and the nearby grounds are largely overgrown.

Cllr Jean Parbrook said the agent was proposing to put in ‘permeable paving’ to try and absorb the surface run off, and had also proposed adding a pond to the west of the site, but questioned whether this would have the desired effect.

Cllr Andrew Parbrook added: “You will still have surface run-off - I have to say I am not overjoyed about their figures for this pond and bio-retention system.”

Cllr Maureen Smith asked if perhaps a storage tank might be more effective and added the problems with surface run-off created by the development would not effect the new development itself but properties lower down such as those at the top of Parkhouse Road.

“The Conservation Society have also noted their concerns of how this development will impact on the character of the listed building. I also think it is a shame there is no affordable housing proposed.”
Town clerk Sue Sanders added that it seemed to be ‘unsustainable development’.

“We said this was overdevelopment when they wanted 14 homes there - now they want 17.

“There are no nearby shops or facilities, no bus stops. Each home will probably have two cars,” she said.

Cllr Gail Everett said it was ‘total overdevelopment’. The application has also received six letters of objection from members of the public.

The Highways Agency were satisfied that the roads could cope with the extra traffic movements created by the development.

The plan will go before West Somerset Council’s planning committee on June 29.