CONTROVERSIAL plans for a gated community of five houses to be built on a former donkey paddock in the centre of Minehead have been approved despite opposition from town councillors and more than a dozen objectors.

The plan involves the demolition of Cherry Trees, in King Edward Road to open up the 1.6-acre site to accommodate a development of detached five-bedroom houses.

It was first submitted by Colin Howells in 2023 and over the years has been subject to a number of amendments to try to meet objections.

But the town council said the changes had not gone far enough and it continued to object to the ‘overbearing’ nature of the development, which was neighboured on two sides by bungalows.

Now, the plans have been approved by Somerset planning chairman Cllr Simon Coles without being put for discussion by councillors at a committee meeting.

Planning officer Anthony Pick had recommended approval on the basis the development represented a ‘sustainable and policy-compliant scheme within the urban area of Minehead’.

Mr Pick said: “It responds positively to the site’s context and character, and has been carefully assessed in relation to residential amenity, highway safety, flood risk, and biodiversity.

“The design, layout, and mitigation measures are considered acceptable.”

Mr Pick said favourable consideration had to be given to the scheme because the council was not meeting its legal obligation to have a five-year supply of land on which housing could be built.

He said: “The benefits of the scheme are not significantly and demonstrably outweighed by any adverse impacts.”

Planning agent Jonathan Scanlan, of Reed Holland Associates Ltd, said Cherry Trees had a ‘curious’ relationship to surrounding houses because it was older than any of them.

Mr Scanlan said its large grounds had seen a variety of uses, including as an ornamental garden, an orchard, and a donkey paddock.