ILMINSTER NEWS: New school for the town as part of 450-home development

PLANS for the potential replacement of Greenfylde First School in Ilminster could soon be taking a step forward.

Cllr Linda Vijeh, Ilminster’s representative at Somerset County Council, has been told that housing developer Persimmon had submitted a planning application to build 450 houses in Canal Way.

She said she had recently received an update from Liz Smith, of Somerset County Council, about the future provision for education in Ilminster considering its increase in population due to the Persimmon development.

Cllr Vijeh said that she had been informed that included in the Persimmon plans is access to a new school site for the “potential replacement of Greenfylde First School.”

“I’ve been told it is going to be difficult to expand the current Greenfylde site to meet the need of future housing in the town,” said Cllr Vijeh. “Therefore replacement and expansion of Greenfylde must be considered.

“I’ve been told that a stakeholder engagement event will be arranged in the spring for anybody with interest to find out more.”

South Somerset District Council’s website shows – at present – no formal application from Persimmon for the application which will include up to 465 homes although expected to be 450, a new school, public open space, formal sports area and landscaping and access.

But a pre-application made early last year resulted in the developers being told that they did not need an environmental impact assessment carried out of the earmarked site for the development.

A spokesman for South Somerset District Council said on Friday (January 6, 2017) that a planning application had been submitted from Persimmon, but due to an administrative error had been delayed although it was likely it would be rectified within a week.

“We expect to see a valid application submitted and live as soon as possible next week,” said a council spokesman.

Tags:
News.