A PLAN that would give Watchet 136 new homes on a greenfield site and possibly provide a new £1.2 million road to replace one endangered by cliff erosion, has been submitted to West Somerset Council.

The scheme – to build houses, flats and bungalows on two sloping fields at the top of Cleeve Hill on the western edge of Watchet – was discussed by Watchet Town Council’s planning committee at a meeting last night (Thursday).

A decision on the council’s reaction to the plans will be made later.

Earlier this year, planning consultant Martin Lee, who is working with the site owner on the project, gave a presentation to the council.

He was asked for further information on the possible effect on the town’s infrastructure and traffic problems.

After the scheme was announced in January, critics claimed that, coming on top of other proposals for nearly 400 homes, the project could bring the town’s infrastructure to breaking point by increasing Watchet’s population by nearly 2,000.

The town already has two other major housing projects in the pipeline – 250 homes are proposed on land at Liddymore Farm and 139 south of Doniford Road.

If all three applications were granted, Watchet would increase by 525 homes.

In their original announcement of the scheme, the developers said it would involve providing a new alignment for the B3191 Blue Anchor road, to address the impact of coastal erosion on Cleeve Hill.

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The road would be diverted inland and would link up with roads in the development.