Planned extra care units in a major Wells development could be replaced with more conventional housing due to ongoing issues surrounding phosphates on the Somerset Levels.

Crest Nicholson South West was granted permission in April 2013 to construct 143 new homes on the former Nutricia site on the A39 Glastonbury Road.

The Vicarage Fields development was also due to include a 64-bed care home (which officially opened in late-April) and 22 extra care units, providing supported accommodation for the over-55s.

But the developer has now applied to scrap this latter proposal, arguing delays surrounding phosphate mitigation mean this aspect of the development is no longer viable.

Following the Dutch N court ruling, Natural England wrote to Somerset's four district councils in October 2020, raising concerns over the high levels of phosphates detected on the Levels and Moors.

The councils were urged to undertake a habitat regulations assessment (HRA) before making a decision on any planning applications which may lead to an increase in phosphates – leading to huge numbers of decisions being delayed.

The four councils have adopted a 'phosphate calculator' as a short-term fix, and wrote to the government in March urging action and guidance, arguing that around 11,000 new homes were being held up.

The Woodsome Estate, working with Crest Nicholson, put forward proposals in early-2020 to convert the extra care section of the site (near the tennis courts) into 23 flats – but Mendip District Council has yet to make a decision on this matter.

Graham Cridland, director at Origin 3 (representing the applicant), said the lack of progress on this issue was threatening to make the remaining parts of the development unviable.

He said: "It seems unlikely that a strategic solution to the phosphates issue will be delivered in the foreseeable future.

"A local solution may be capable of being delivered, but that would be subject to several practical issues being resolved.

"This also may have a detrimental impact on the viability of the development – thereby prejudicing the delivery of the scheme altogether."

Mr Cridland said that replacing the extra care units with standard residential accommodation was in keeping with the site's intended use for housing of some description.

He said: "A total of 40 per cent of the dwellings will be affordable.

"However, we will use reasonable endeavours to secure grant funding with the object of delivering 100 per cent affordable housing."

Mendip District Council is expected to make a decision on the plans later in the year.