Some 54 new ‘green’ council houses will be built on a Minehead site by 2023 under new proposals put forward by Somerset West and Taunton Council.

If accepted, the scheme will see land on Seaward Way, near Minehead’s Community Hospital, become the site for low-cost environmentally-friendly flats, houses and bungalows.

The council is in the process of securing planning permission for the scheme, with a view to construction beginning in spring or summer next year, the authority’s scrutiny committee was told at its virtual meeting last Wednesday.

Councillors heard that the site lies next to the town’s cricket club, the hospital and sports pitches used by West Somerset College.

Magna Housing Association previously expressed interest in developing the site and obtained permission to build 40 new homes in the area in October 2019 but it has since withdrawn this expression of interest.

Of the 54 new properties, 33 will be one or two-bedroom flats, with the remainder being two-to-four-bedroom houses or bungalows.

Formal plans will be submitted by the council this winter, with a view to building starting by the spring or summer of 2021.

Wendy Lewis, the council’s specialist housing development manager, said in her written report: “The scheme will re-purpose an existing council asset into much-needed housing stock for our residents in the former West Somerset area, together with community benefit from high-performing houses that are cost-efficient to maintain.

“It will also result in the improved general appearance of the area and the gateway to Minehead.”

The full cost of bringing the scheme forward has not been published due to commercial sensitivity.

However, the council has confirmed it will benefit from £470,000 of contributions secured from Hinkley Point C power station, as well as just over £58,000 of contributions transferred from the Ellicombe Meadow development.

The council is also putting in a bid to Homes England, a government body which provides funding to ‘unlock’ difficult sites for development.

The new houses will be offered at ‘affordable rent’ levels which are set between 60 per cent and 80 per cent of the market rate.

Cllr Fran Smith, portfolio holder for housing, said that securing new homes at the lower ‘social rent’ levels was proving very challenging.

She said: “It is very difficult, and everything we are putting on these sites to make them low or zero-carbon is pushing us towards affordable rent. I am hoping we can get the rent as close to 60 per cent of the market rate, rather than 80 per cent.”

Cllr Keith Wheatley added: “This administration was elected saying we were going to build houses – and my goodness, we’re building them!”

DANIEL MUMBY

Local democracy reporter