Persimmon Homes Severn Valley are proposing to build 200 homes on three fields on the edge of Keynsham.
Nexus Planning, who are agents for the developer, are asking Bath & North East Somerset Council whether they will need to submit an environmental impact assessment (IEIA) prior to a planning application for just over nine hectares of arable land west of Charlton Road.
One access to the new development would be from the existing three-arm Charlton Road/Linnet Way roundabout and another about 25 metres north of the Aesop Drive junction.
The Green Belt site is about 300 metres east of Queen Charlton, and a belt of woodland is proposed along the western boundary of the site to maintain visual separation between the new estate and the village.
Land to the north of the Persimmon site has already been earmarked for potential development in B&NES Council’s Local Plan Options Document.
The southern end of that site directly fronts Charlton Road and the northern side borders the back gardens of houses on Lays Drive. The first option is for 300 homes and would require the relocation of businesses at Lays Farm Trading Estate. The second option for 100 homes keeps Lays Farm Trading Estate.
There are no detailed proposals for Persimmon’s site at this stage but 45% of the new homes would be “affordable” and Nexus says the effects during the construction phase would be over a relatively short period of one to two years.
A high-pressure gas main crosses the site from north to south and there would be no development six metres either side of it. There are no public rights of way within the site but there is an ancient tree and the illustrative masterplan allows for a radius exclusion zone around it of almost 22 metres.
The Environment Agency Flood Map identifies a small area of land as being at risk of surface water flooding in the east of the site.
The development would have community allotments, an orchard, grasslands and recreational facilities, with equipped play areas and an informal kick-about area.
The site is said to be well connected to surrounding facilities and services via footways and cycle routes and to have good public transport links.
The developer says that the cumulative impact of 200 homes, combined with other existing and approved development, would not create significant environmental impacts during construction or once completed.
The council is due to make a decision on whether Persimmon needs an EIA by Friday 22nd August.
