MORE than 45 Minehead residents have objected to plans for five new homes to be built on land above St Michael’s Church on North Hill.

An application has been submitted would be based on currently unused land on Beacon Road, however the site is outside the Minehead development limits.

The proposals have been submitted by Mitchell Architects of Williton on behalf of the owner of the land, a comprise five homes, each two and a half storeys high.

The developers say it would make a suitable site for a small housing development and have ‘minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

However a large number of objections have been submitted with residents upset about the visual impact, disruption during construction and effect on the environment.

At the time of writing the application had received 47 objections from the public.

One Church Steps resident comments: “The area is a great attraction to holiday makers and walkers, who bring an abundance of business to the town.

“This development will affect the view of St Michael’s Church and North Hill, which is one of the town’s main attractions. Such a large development is out of keeping with the area.”

Another resident on Bayview Road states: “As a long term resident of Minehead and a frequent user of the roads and paths on North Hill, I object to the proposed development.

“If completed this development would change forever a defining aspect of Minehead.

“Views of this aspect of North Hill dominate from every part of the area from the road coming in, from Blenheim Gardens and from most parts of the town.

“Building houses in place of the beautiful trees and adjacent to the iconic church would be wrong.

“With the development of the coastal path, the Steam Coast Trail, Channel Training, athletic and bike racing events, the image of minehead is changing. “It is increasingly being viewed as an outstanding outdoor pursuits centre.

“Why not help that development by making proper use of the natural advantages we have, rather than obliterate them with inappropriate developments?”

To view the plans visit the planning section of the West Somerset Council website and search for application 3/21/19/007.