The planning application to develop the last vacant plots on the south side of the Commerce Park for 61 small business units (B2/B8 units with ancillary office space, in nine buildings), and a single industrial building (in two 15,000 sq.ft. units) was deferred for up to three months at last week’s Mendip District Council Planning Board.

This is after the Coalway Lane Residents Association and I and other councillors raised several concerns, including potential noise impact and the need for measures to improve active travel connections and sustainability. Planning Board members agreed that time was needed to address these – please see here. Effectively this sends the planning application back to the developer and MDC planning department to address the concerns raised, to either revise the application or develop suitable planning controls to protect the residents. The press have also picked up on this, with an article from local democracy report Daniel Mumby here.

Please send me any comments and concerns to cllrboyden@gmail.com. I look forward to working with the CLRA, residents, other councillors and the applicant’s team to hopefully improve on the proposals and address residents’ and the Town Council’s reasonable concerns.