A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to convert Minehead’s former Periton Mead School into homes finally got the go-ahead from West Somerset Council’s planning committee last Thursday.
It granted planning permission for the existing house to be converted into flats and for homes to be built in the grounds, although objections from some councillors that the developer was not making a large enough contribution towards affordable housing.
After hearing that the scheme was “a high risk development with a low profit margin”, the committee accepted an offer of a contribution of £50,000, despite Cllr Andrew Hadley’s claim that planning regulations stipulated a total contribution of around £500,000.
At a previous committee meeting in November, officers had recommended approval for the grade two listed 57-room manor house to be converted into 14 flats plus 17 homes in the grounds.
But the committee deferred the matter until more information was obtained from developers LLK Property Ltd on its affordable housing contribution and plans for parking, pedestrian crossings, flood prevention and the redesign of a gatehouse on the property.
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In a report to last week’s meeting, planning officer Sue Keal said she believed members now had enough new information to make a decision.