New business units near the A303 in Somerset have been approved by council planning officers after three years of delays.
Development Details
Brickcourt Ltd. put forward plans in October 2023 to deliver eight new units at the Cadbury Business Park off the A359 Cary Road in North Cadbury, a short distance north of the A303 near Sparkford. The developer has spent the best part of three years negotiating with Somerset Council over the proposals, putting forward several different designs and addressing issues surrounding the access arrangements. The council has now finally given these proposals the go-ahead, enabling construction to begin before the year is over.
The business park provides various units for small- and medium-sized enterprises in the parish of North Cadbury and beyond, lying on the main road between the A303 and Castle Cary. Under the newly-approved plans, eight new units will be constructed within three blocks at the south-eastern edge of the site, providing just over 3,100 square metres of employment space between them.
Additional Features
The existing storage yard and loading area will be retained, with an attenuation pond and new landscaping being created to offset the impact of the new development and reduce the risk of localised flooding. It is unclear how many new jobs will be created through this development, since this will depend on the tenants who ultimately occupy the units.
A spokesperson for Boon Brown Architects (representing the applicant) said: "The proposed buildings are of an appropriate size, scale, and design to the local context, and have been designed in such a way that will not cause overriding visual harm to the landscape. The development provides an appropriate variety of unit sizes, as well as the necessary amenity and parking required. This proposal also implements extensive landscaping works which will not only work to screen and mitigate against the impact of the proposed development, but also that of the previously constructed phases of the Cadbury Business Park."
Planning Approval
The council approved the plans through the delegated powers of its planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee south (which handles major applications within the former South Somerset area). Senior planning officer Ian Cousins said: "The recently adopted North Cadbury and Yarlington Neighbourhood Plan designates land at Cadbury Business Park as an employment site, to meet the needs of North Cadbury and the surrounding parishes. The National Planning Policy Framework supports the provision of a prosperous rural economy, and reiterates the government's desire to support economic growth in rural areas in order to create jobs and prosperity by taking a positive approach to sustainable new development. It is considered that infill of this gap between these two existing commercial sites... with a development of a similar scale and character will not have a significant detrimental impact upon landscape character. The proposed development will read visually with this existing built form rather than the introduction of new incongruous development within the countryside."
