THE proposed redevelopment of Watchet’s Wansbrough paper mill site will not provide enough new jobs or a previously-promised care home, and ‘significant infrastructure changes’ will be necessary to cope with the increased population, the town council warned this week.

The council was reacting to amended plans put forward by Tameer Homes for a mixture of houses, sheltered accommodation, retail units, a hotel and leisure facilities – and has made nine objections to the scheme.

The mill, which dated back to the 1660s, closed in 2015 with the loss of 176 jobs and its future has been the subject of conjecture ever since.

The site has been identified in the district council’s Local Plan for ‘mixed use’ development – a mixture of residential and commercial uses – to be brought forward by 2040.

Tameer Homes originally proposed to build up to 400 homes on site, but this has now been revised down to a maximum of 350 homes, made up of 260 homes and 90 flats.

The number of assisted living apartments – also known as extra care housing – has also been downgraded from 160 to 80.

Plans for a 60-bed care home on the site have been scrapped, in favour of the space being given over for a civic building incorporating a ‘visitor interpretation centre’.

While the hotel and leisure facilities remain as originally proposed, the overall area allocated for employment within the site has decreased down to 5,000 sq m – 7,650 sq m when the hotel and leisure elements are included.

The site will also include a new public car park and improved pedestrian access, with a new mini-roundabout providing access for motorists.

After Watchet town council discussed the revised plans, the town clerk, Sarah Reed, said: “We specifically asked for the area for employment to be increased, since the area previously supported 176 jobs when the paper mill closed. The amount of such land has actually been reduced, which is most worrying.”

Ms Reed said ongoing concerns about sewage treatment and odour were ‘unaddressed’, noting the proximity of the Washford River to the site. She said: “Concerns were expressed about the management of drainage on the site with culverted streams and the nearby water course of the river.”

She added that the removal of the care home was “very disappointing. The demand for such provision in the Watchet / Williton area is a growing market in the foreseeable future, and there is inadequate provision in the area at present.”

The council felt a proposed new civic building could be superfluous if a new facility tied to the town’s bowling club was delivered. Ms Reed said: “We wonder if Watchet needs two such buildings given the number of smaller-scale buildings which can be hired for meetings and functions.”

It was felt that the proposed development would be “like a new village grafted onto the western side of Watchet, and it is important that residents do not have to leave the site for day to day needs while also not putting in amenities which threaten the viability of the town centre.”

The developer intended to construct a new mini-roundabout on Brendon Road to access the site, with traffic calming measures to enable pedestrians to walk from the new homes to Knights Templar School on Liddymore Road.

But councillors said there was ‘doubt as to whether these measures can be successful in their aim’, suggesting traffic lights with pedestrian crossing as an alternative.

The town council did, however, welcome the reduction in the number of planned homes, the variety within the homes proposed, the prospect of a new hotel and leisure facilities on the site, and the additional car parking.

Ms Reed concluded: “We welcome a mixed-use development on this site which recognises the value of the site historically as an employment site while providing new forms of employment and living. We regard this site as crucial for delivering the largest possible number of affordable and social housing units.”

Somerset West and Taunton Council will make a final decision on the plans, taking on board comments from the town and county councils, and other consultees.

Daniel Mumby

Local democracy reporter