A CONTROVERSIAL planning application for more than 250 homes in Rockwell Green has been turned down as it would result in an ‘unplanned extension of the town’.

Gladman Developments planned to build 205 homes and 60 apartments with care facilities on land west of Bagley Road.

But Taunton Deane Borough Council planners have refused the application as the new homes would fall outside the defined settlement limit of Wellington and Rockwell Green, which would result in an unplanned extension of the town.

Recently elected local councillor Lynda Russell-Cairns said: “I am very pleased that Wellington Town Council also made a recommendation to refuse this application. Dozens of objections were received to the application and as one resident said to me: ‘I can sleep easier now as this has all been settled’.”

Other reasons for turning down the application included insufficient information being submitted to demonstrate that the development would result in no harm to any European Protected Species and that no mechanism was in place to secure appropriate affordable housing.

Wellington Town Council also voted to reject the plans on the grounds the land fell outside of the core strategy, that there was an adequate supply of allocated land in Wellington and that there was insufficient infrastructure in Wellington to support the development.

Dozens of objections were received to the application, mainly opposing it for similar reasons to the council.

Cllr Janet Reed said: “Green fields have been one of the things that has made this country special, helping to contain the ugly urban sprawl that blights much of Europe and America. “This application is outside the village settlement area and a threat to yet more concrete covering our countryside.

“Brexit should ease the population pressure that has caused building on our countryside, so it is unnecessary to continue Green Field sites for housing. Many residents living in Bagley Road and Rockwell Green will be aware of flooding issues in this area in the past and building on this land will make this problem far worse.”

Other concerns residents voiced included the stretching of vital services across the town.