Huge new 350 home development planned for Williton

A proposal has been submitted by Savills on behalf of the Wyndham Estate for a large development including 350 new homes, land for a GP surgery or business use, a new spine road, sports pitches, allotments and a community orchard.

The plans also include enhancements to the Battlegore Barrows monument including adding information boards and carrying out landscaping.

The site comprises a number of fields totalling 70 acres in size to the west of Priest Street.

The developers promise that 35 per cent of the homes will be affordable housing, a total of 122 dwellings.

In the application it states that there will be ‘a generous parkland setting fronting Priest Street’, ‘a wide spine road forming the backbone of the development’, pedestrian and cycle links, and drainage.

A spokesman for Savills said: “Enhancement of the designated heritage asset Battlegore Barrow Cemetery and its setting should take place.

“The site should be enhanced to ensure its use as a communal asset and contribute positively to the community.”

During a consultation drop-in held at the Williton Parish Council Rooms in October, more than 80 people attended and gave their feedback, which included concerns over traffic, the capacity at local schools, and developing on a greenfield site.

A spokesman for Savills states in the application: “At the time of submission, no new homes have been delivered at the key strategic allocations at Minehead, Watchet or Williton, on which the Local Plan is reliant for the delivery of around 50 per cent of all new homes to 2032.

“There is also huge uncertainty over whether the Minehead allocated site, which itself is earmarked for 750 dwellings are deliverable at all.”

Outline plans for 90 new homes on land to the east of Aller Mead in Williton were given the green light in October 2019.

To view the full application, visit the planning section of the Somerset West and Taunton Council website and search for the application number 3/39/20/003.