Plans to build 37 homes have been refused by councillors as it promotes ‘quantity at the expense of quality’.

Yatton Developments Ltd wants to turn the village’s former Titan Ladders base in Mendip Road into a housing estate.

Old buildings, which have been untouched since Titan Ladders moved to Clevedon in 2016 would be demolished under the scheme.

The revised application went before North Somerset Council’s planning and regulatory committee on December 12 and features improvements to parking, vehicle access and road layouts, but councillors still felt this was not enough.

Roads within the development would not be adopted by the council as they do not meet its requirements, while highways and drainage maintenance and refuge collections would have to be managed by a third party.

Committee members expressed concerns over paying a private company to maintain the site.

Cllr Jill Iles said: “I cannot support this application; it is simply quantity at the expense of quality. This development will have an overbearing impact on the community and its lack of parking and community space is concerning.

“It will restrict the ability of drivers because the site layout makes the roads difficult to use, which also poses a risk to pedestrians’ safety.”

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The site is located in ‘a highly sustainable area’, with close links to public transport and less than half a mile from High Street.

It is surrounded by housing on three sides, falls in previously developed land and the idea of housing on the site is supported within Yatton’s draft neighbourhood plan.

The proposal was deferred in November to allow members to visit the area and see the uneven ground.

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Cllr Tom Leimdorfer said: “Ramming in homes like this makes me particularly worried.

“Hiring a private company will attract many objections and could results in people’s tax payments doubling.”

Cllr Charles Cave added: “There is no doubt there will be development here at some point, but the issues around drainage cannot be ignored.

“We cannot accept this application in this state, it appears very unthought through.”

The plan will be re-evaluated in January as members went against officer’s recommendations.