Proposals to turn brownfield land into a housing estate have caused fierce debate in Yeovil.

The land is located near the town centre at West Hendford, and currently houses an industrial unit vacated by Aerosystems.

Applicant Southern Electric Plc is seeking permission to go ahead with residential development on the 1.4 hectares site but the district council is not convinced, citing loss of employment land as one reason for its reluctance.

It is anticipated that about 70 dwellings would be built should outline planning permission be given.

Planners reported to the Area South Committee last week that the council decided to pursue a mixed-use strategy (residential and light industrial) in 2000.

A representative of the applicant took issue and said that housing was recommended for the land on the last occasion he had addressed the council.

The representative spoke at length, arguing that loss of employment land was not a big issue since there was no longer a demand for it in this particular area of Yeovil

The matter of affordable housing was another contentious issue. The applicant had indicated that only 18 per cent of homes would be allocated for affordable housing, which was short of the council's 36 per cent policy.

The applicants claimed the figure of 36 per cent was based on a survey which findings "have yet to be considered at an inquiry or in a similar forum in which objectors' comments are addressed".

It was also reported that the Highway Authority opposed designs of an access to the site but would change its mind if ongoing negotiations came up with an acceptable alternative.

Councillors voted 18 to one to recommend refusal on grounds of loss of employment land, the low number of affordable housing and road safety concerns.

* A similar application was submitted last year and will be the subject of a public inquiry as the applicant has lodged an appeal for "non-determination" of that application.

The public inquiry will start on April 24th while the council's Regulation Committee will deal with the second application on March 18th.