DISUSED buildings on a farm in a village near Taunton could be converted into a yoga retreat with a studio and three holiday cabins. 

A planning application has been submitted to Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) for a series of works at Pickney Farm, near Kingston St Mary.

If successful, the plans would see outbuildings converted and an extension built to create a yoga studio, communal lounge, and three holiday cabins. 

The holiday cabins will contain a kitchen/diner, living area, shower room, and bedroom.

The site currently consists of a house, a holiday let, a workshop, a disused piggery, former prisoner of war barracks, and a dutch barn.

The farm currently puts on alpaca experiences, giving guests educational walks around the land and the chance to hand-feed the animals.

Yoga sessions are held in the open air on the fields, and there are two glamping pitches available for hire. An on-site holiday let has been recently renovated.

Somerset County Gazette: Kingston St Mary is a village located four miles north of Taunton.Kingston St Mary is a village located four miles north of Taunton.

A statement with the planning application said: “The yoga retreat will expand on the existing business on site utilising the serene nature of the site and providing a beautiful experience for people to use as a holiday retreat.

“The third building will be re-purposed as an communal lounge where guests can eat together and have an activity space.”


Read more: Yoga retreat planned on farm near Taunton that housed prisoners of war

Read more: New wetlands could be created near M5


New wetlands could be created near the M5 in Somerset to enable new housing and commercial developments to progress.

Some major housing and commercial developments in the county have been held by the Dutch N court ruling prohibiting increases in phosphate levels.

SWT has set aside £2 million to create new wetlands and adopt a new system of ‘phosphate credits’ to unlock new developments. 

Now, Chelston Heath LLP has put forward plans to create wetlands near Wellington that could allow a major commercial development to come forward.

The Taunton company applied in January to deliver new business units on the eastern side of the Chelston link road connecting Wellington to the M5 at junction 26.

The development would include two food and drink kiosks and one restaurant, plus an electric vehicle charging hub, and could create up to 236 new jobs.

Somerset County Gazette: The wetlands site has been proposed to enable a commercial development near Wellington. Picture: Tom LeamanThe wetlands site has been proposed to enable a commercial development near Wellington. Picture: Tom Leaman

To mitigate the impact of the development, the company plans to create wetlands at the southern tip of the site, which forms part of the River Tone catchment area.

Seven new ponds would be created, connected by weirs, with significant numbers of trees planted at the site. 

In other planning news, Taunton School has unveiled multi-million pound plans to restructure its campus.

The application seeks to have several buildings demolished to allow the construction of two new buildings for academic teaching and boarding provision.

The school also hopes to build a footbridge over Greenway Road to connect the main campus with sports facilities, including a floodlit multi games area.


Full list of recent planning applications

The following applications and notifications were received for consideration by Somerset West and Taunton Council in the week ending July 22, 2022.

They can be viewed online at somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/planning or electronically at Deane House reception, Belvedere Road, Taunton.

Bishops Lydeard

06/22/0020: Erection of a shed to house mobility scooter at 2 The Stables, South Drive, Sandhill Drive, Bishops Lydeard.

Cheddon Fitzpaine

08/22/0008/T: Application to fell one multi-stemmed Ash tree included in Taunton Deane Borough (Cheddon Fitzpaine No.1) Tree Preservation Order 1997 at The Old Rectory, Cheddon Fitzpaine (TD707).

Chipstable

09/22/0003: Erection of first floor extension to the front, replacement of lean to with the erection of a single story extension to the rear, replacement and enlargement of porch to the front, raising of roof and various landscaping surrounding The Old Rectory, Chipstable.

Hatch Beauchamp

19/22/0015: Alterations to windows and double doors of the delivery area, various internal and external alterations and to omit glazed roof lantern over ramped access with changes to flat roof heights at Beauchamp House Nursing Home, Hatch Beauchamp (retention of park works already undertaken).

19/22/0016/LB: Alterations to windows and double doors of the delivery area, various internal and external alterations and to omit glazed roof lantern over ramped access with changes to flat roof heights at Beauchamp House Nursing Home, Hatch Beauchamp (retention of park works already undertaken).

Kingston St Mary

20/22/0012:Change of use of land for mixed agriculture and tourism/recreation with creation of 2 No. glamping pitches with associated toilet and shower facilities (retention of works), conversion and change of use of outbuildings on site, with erection of extension, to create a yoga studio, communal lounge and 3 No. holiday cabins to be used as a yoga retreat at Pickney Farm, Pickney Lane, Kingston St Mary.

20/22/0023/T: Notification to fell one additional Larch tree (to 20/22/0021T) within Kingston St. Mary Conservation Area at Badgers Hay, Lodes Lane, Kingston St. Mary.

Langford Budville

21/22/0006: Erection of stables with tack and feed room in paddock at Willow Acre Barn, Milverton Road, Langford Budville.

North Curry

24/22/0029/T: Application to carry out management works to one Oak tree included in Taunton Deane Borough (North Curry No.1) Tree Preservation Order 1997 at Manor End, The Fosse, North Curry (TD724).

24/22/0032: Erection of a two storey extension to the front and single storey extensions to the rear of 5 Lodwells Orchard, North Curry.

Ruishton

31/22/0013/T: Application to carry out management works to one Tulip Tree included in Taunton Deane Borough (Ruishton No.1) Tree Preservation Order 1990 at The Lodge House, Bushy Cross Lane, Ruishton (TD497).

Staple Fitzpaine

33/22/0015: Erection of a timber clad external composting WC at St Peters Church, Staple Fitzpaine.

Taunton

38/22/0220: Erection of garden building to the front of 96 Greenway Road, Taunton.

38/22/0239: Demolition of building and structures and erection of 2 No. buildings for academic teaching and residential boarding with provision of associated car parking, installation of pedestrian bridge and construction of flood lit, enclosed multi games area at Taunton School, Taunton.

38/22/0240/LB: Demolition of building and structures and erection of 2 No. buildings for academic teaching and residential boarding with provision of associated car parking, installation of pedestrian bridge and construction of flood lit, enclosed multi games area at Taunton School, Taunton.

38/22/0241/T: Notification to fell one Sycamore tree within Mount Street and Vivary Park Conservation Area at 17 Mount Street, Taunton.

38/22/0245: Application for Outline Planning with all matters reserved, except for access, for the demolition of 2 No. bungalows and erection of 2 No. apartment blocks providing up to 42 No. flats on land at Beech Acre and Steps Water, Wellington Road, Taunton.

Wellington

43/22/0073: Replacement of conservatory with the erection of a part single storey and part two storey extension to the rear and erection of a first floor extension to the side of 21 Sylvan Road, Wellington.

43/22/0082: Erection of a single storey extension to the rear of 21 Popham Road, Wellington.

West Buckland

46/22/0008: Creation of wetland with associated development including construction of an in-take/out-take to Haywards Water, earthworks and landscaping and excavation of land in field south east of Park Lane, Hockholler, West Buckland.

West Hatch

47/22/0004: Erection of a one and a half storey extension to the side of Fairacre, West Hatch Lane, West Hatch.

Wiveliscombe

49/22/0019: Installation of 12 No. solar panels to the garage at Dove Cote Barn, Culverhay Lane, Wiveliscombe.