A decision on a major new development in Frome has been delayed by a month due to "an administrative error".

Silverwood (Ditcheat) Ltd has put forward plans to build 235 homes and several commercial units on land either side of Sandys Hill Lane, near the town's Sainsbury's supermarket.

Mendip District Council's planning board met virtually on Wednesday morning (May 27) to make a decision on the plans.

But this has had to be postponed until late-June after it emerged that not all the relevant consultees – including the parish council – had been contacted to give their views.

Under planning law, there are a number of bodies who must be contacted and asked for their views ahead of a decision being taken on any planning application.

These include the parish or town council in a given area, Somerset County Council (which is responsible for the road network), the district councillor for the area, Natural England and Historic England.

Not all of these bodies (and others) have to provide a full response before a decision can be taken – but sufficient time for such a response must be given.

Councillor Damon Hooton (who chairs the planning board) did not specify which bodies had not been contacted – but said it was an issue with the council's IT systems, rather than a personal oversight on the part of any individual planning officer.

He said: "Due to an administrative error, where not all of the appropriate notifications have gone out to stakeholders (to parish councils etc.), there will be no development management items dealt with today.

"They are going to be deferred until the earliest possible dates, which is maybe two or three weeks away.

"I apologise for that. It is a technical error caused by IT, rather than a personal mistake – for which, again, I apologise."

Silverwood's plans for the site would see new homes being built at its eastern edge, away from both the existing commercial development and the town's household recycling centre.

The commercial space will include a food store, a non-food retail outlet. and a drive-thru of some description.

The company is based in Westonbirt in Gloucestershire, according to Companies House, but one of its directors is Philip Ham – who represents Coleford and Holcombe on the district council, and is also the county councillor for Mendip Central and East.

The opposition Conservative group – of which Mr Ham is a member – has criticised the running of the virtual meeting in a post on its official Facebook page.

The post stated: "Oops… Mendip's planning board were unable to consider any planning applications today as proper notifications hadn't been sent out, so all delayed for a further month.

"A late start and the chairman had technical difficulties and couldn't be seen either.

"[Technical] gremlins are becoming a common sight at Mendip District Council."