Minehead’s community center will receive less funding due to unexpected soil removal costs at the Exmoor Gate housing development.
It was estimated at over £491,000. The builder asked to pay less in October 2022. Soil removal costs made the project less profitable, they said. Somerset Council agreed to a lower payment. The developer will pay under £176,000.
This payment is due when the final house is ready. Stratton Land wanted to put soil on a nearby field. The landowner changed their mind about this. In 2023, they got permission to use the Watchet paper mill site. It is on Brendon Road.
The council believes the lower payment is acceptable. They used an independent assessment. Stratton Land will pay £175,614 for facilities. The original demand was £491,592. This money must be used in Minehead or Dunster.
There is no set deadline for spending it. A town council leader criticized the change. He spoke at a meeting in Taunton on February 18. The council leader said work began in 2020. The builder should have known about site issues, he added.
They should have made a payment then, he stated. He feels the community shouldn’t suffer. The developer is still projected to profit, he said. The initial agreement required a payment early on. Another payment was due halfway through construction.
A councilor stated developers can’t change agreements later. He feels it is developer greed. He argued these applications need to stop. The committee voted to change the agreement. Stratton Land must pay the lower amount quickly. They have three months after signing the new deal.