A decision on plans for more than 300 new homes in Frome had to be pushed back after the relevant planning officer was unable to attend a public meeting.

Three separate applications for a combined total of 325 homes have been put forward for three sites either side of the B3092 The Mount at the town's southern edge.

Mendip District Council's planning board was expected to make a decision on all three applications when it met in Shepton Mallet yesterday evening (July 14).

But the board has had to delay a decision for at least two weeks after the planning officer involved was unable to attend the meeting.

Councillor Damon Hooton, who chairs the planning board, broke the news at the start of the meeting.

He said: "The member of staff who was dealing with these applications, I'm afraid has had to go home, for reasons which I am not prepared to share with you online.

"They are sufficient enough to warrant her leaving us at the moment – and my best wishes to xx. Therefore these plans will not be debated this evening."

Each planning application has a designated planning officer, who typically gives a presentation on a given application at public meetings and fields questions from councillors before any democratic decision is taken.

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The three parcels of land lie either side of The Mount, to the east of Little Keyford Lane. Under the proposals, Wainhomes will deliver 70 homes with access from Little Keyford Lane, with green space and an attenuation pond being provided at the south-eastern corner of the site.

This development's spine road will connect up to the David Wilson Homes site on the western side of The Mount, providing a route between the two main roads in and out of Frome for each housing estate.

The site on the western site of The Mount will provide 131 homes, with a further attenuation pond and green space at its southern edge.

The final parcel of land, on the eastern side of The Mount, will provide 124 homes, with the access road being staggered to the south of the western development to prevent congestion or crashes.

The developers said delivering a new roundabout on the B3092 to connect these latter two sites would result in greater damage to the natural environment than a staggered junction.

Mr Hooton originally indicated that a decision would be taken at a special planning board meeting on July 28 at 6pm.

However, this is yet to be confirmed by the council, with the next regular board meeting scheduled to be held on August 18.

In other planning news in and around Frome this week, and applications include:

An application is in for Prior approval for a proposed change of use of a building from Offices (Class B1(a)) into two homes at Bleets Farm on Feltham Lane in Frome. Details under Ref. No: 2021/1599/PAO.

Planning decisions this week include:

Approved, plans to build an agricultural above ground slurry store, with PVC cover and associated works at Sunnyside Farm in Foghamshire Lane in Trudoxhill.

There is no objection to the owners of Monks Farm at 47 Lower Keyford who applied to fell a Leyland and a Tuscan Cypress in their back garden.