Somerset Council notify Bridgwater Town Council of all planning applications within Bridgwater.
The Town Council are a non-statutory consultee and consider as an authority whether to raise any comments in relation to submitted applications.
At the Town Council’s Planning Committee on Thursday 29 May 2025 the application for a change of use of a Care Home to an 18 Bedroom House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) was considered by the Committee. After careful consideration and debate the committee unanimously agreed to object to the application on the following grounds:
- Overdevelopment of the site
- Lack of parking on site
- Changing the street character
The Chair of the Planning Committee Cllr Tim Mander commented,
“Consistent with previous similar applications the committee once again raised serious objections to the latest application to create a further HMO in the Town Centre.
“The committee is concerned over the proliferation of HMO’s which appear to be largely driven by the accommodation requirements of Hinkley Point C.
“The strain on local parking and the impact on the character of neighbourhoods that HMO’s create is evident across the town and it is reflected in the views of many local residents which elected members represent. Having said that the final decision remains with Somerset Council Area North Committee.”
