Charities seek homes on Nailsea fields

Two charities are keen to build dozens of homes in Nailsea on a site once set aside for community use.St Peter’s Hospice and Brunelcare have applied to North Somerset Council for outline planning permission to build 24 homes on undeveloped, private land to the south of Trendlewood Way.The land, also known as Shepstone Fields, used to belong to Mary Shepstone who left the fields to Brunelcare and St Peter’s Hospice in her will – to be used to serve the community.North Somerset Council removed the designation due to a lack of proposals to develop the land for the community.The site comprises two fields, separated by hedgerows and an area of woodland.Nailsea Town Council’s planning committee has recommended the application is accepted, subject to a number of conditions.The authority wants concerns relating to a number of issues, including drainage, to be explored and resolved in consultation with residents.It also wants to examine the housing mix, ensure land is sold on a freehold basis and a pedestrian crossing is installed in Trendlewood Way.In 2013, the charities were keen to build 40 homes on the site, but the application was met with opposition from a number of neighbours.North Somerset Council has been told to allow about 21,000 homes to be built between 2006-2026.