3 market dwellings at The Chapel House, Fiddington, Bridgwater

Summary of planning committee decision

Decided by Sedgemoor North on 14 Oct 2025.

28/23/00002Refused

No officer report was published for this decision; this summary is from the committee minutes.

Objectors repeated earlier concerns

Objectors raised the same points as a companion application and noted a previous refusal for a similar development in 2023.

“Objectors expressed the same points as Planning Application 28/23/00001 and that they had no additional points to add.”

“Highlighted a previous refusal for a similar development from 2023.”

Minutes

Supporters argued for approval

Supporters said the site was not overdeveloped, that the committee had approved a similar self-build scheme, and that refusing would only delay self-build homes becoming open market dwellings.

“The Committee were addressed by two supporters whose comments included:”

“Highlighted the site could accommodate more than three houses and did not consider it overdeveloped. • Expressed how there was separation between properties which would limit the overshadowing concerns and highlighted how the proposal was infill. • Highlighted how the Committee approved the previous application. • Highlighted how after three years self-build homes could be sold as open market dwellings without any Community Infrastructure Levy being owed to the Council.”

Minutes

Self-build policy versus market housing

Councillors said local policy only supported self-build or custom-build in the countryside, and worried that approving market dwellings would set a precedent undermining that policy.

“Councillors focused on the distinction between self-build and market dwellings. Highlighted how Local Policy (CO2 and D9) only supported self- build or custom-build as exceptions for Countryside development. • Councillors expressed how Somerset’s Policies were different to those in North Essex and that local context and policy must guide their decision.”

Minutes

Councillors voted to refuse

Councillors proposed and seconded refusal, in line with the officer recommendation, which the committee carried unanimously.

“After deliberations Councillor Filmer proposed to refuse permission in accordance with Officers’ recommendations. This was seconded by Councillor Martin.”

“Having been duly proposed and seconded the Planning Committee resolved that the Planning Application be REFUSED planning permission in line with the officer recommendation.”

Minutes

Sources

  • Sedgemoor North minutes, 14 October 2025
  • Agenda and papers (council website)

Source: Plota analysis of Sedgemoor's committee minutes. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.

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At the meeting

Council
Sedgemoor
Date
Tuesday 14 October 2025
Committee decided
Refused
Vote
Unanimous
Minutes
The council's minutes
Meeting
Agenda and papers (council website)
Application
The application (council website)

This committee's year

8 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.

Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.

Every decision by this council's committees →