Rugby club housing plan faces second refusal after Wells council meeting cut short

A revised planning application for more than 100 homes on the former Wells Rugby Club site has once again hit a wall — this time after a city council meeting was cut short due to a lack of eligible councillors to vote.
The proposal from housing association Stonewater, which would see 105 homes built off Charter Way, was on the agenda at Wells City Council's Planning Advisory Committee meeting on August 7. However, a vote could not take place as only two eligible councillors were present — not enough for a quorum.
The city council had previously recommended refusal of Stonewater's original 106-home application in April. The latest version has also been recommended for refusal under delegated powers, with the council stating that its original objections remain unresolved.
Before the meeting was adjourned, several members of the public voiced their objections. Concerns were raised about plans to route the Strawberry Line through the development on a widened pavement, with calls instead for a separate 3-metre-wide path with a 1-metre verge along the site's northern boundary.
Residents also expressed frustration about the loss of green space and questioned whether the proposed layout would offer easy access to nearby open areas. Others criticised the scheme for exceeding the 80 homes outlined in the Neighbourhood Plan and said the housing designs lacked local character.
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