All systems go for 270 homes on edge of Midsomer Norton

Outline planning permission is currently in place for 270 homes on the A367 Green Park Road in Midsomer Norton, on land behind the White Post Inn.

Permission was first secured by Waddeton Park Ltd in July 2022, with the decision being ratified by Mendip District Council again in March 2023 after a judicial review removed the site from its Local Plan Part II.

The site was subsequently sold to Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, which put forward amended designs for the same number of properties in October 2023.

Somerset Council (which replaced the district council in April 2023) has now approved these revised proposals, meaning construction could get under way before the end of the year.

This decision comes mere weeks before the council plans to launch a consultation on new housing sites in the north-east corner of the county which could deliver around 500 new homes, replacing those struck out by the High Court.

The White Post site was previously described as “the meat in the sandwich” when the outline plans were approved, since it lies between two already approved housing sites.

The site is bordered to the north by the Beecham Place development (which lies within the Bath and North East Somerset Council area) and to the south by the Beauchamps Drive site, where planning permission for 75 homes was secured on appeal.

As per the outline approval, 30 per cent of the new homes will be affordable (the equivalent of 81 properties), with access being provided into the adjoining housing estates to create a safe walking route to the nearby Norton Hill Primary School and the nearby rugby club.

In addition to the affordable housing, the developer will provide nearly £350,000 towards schooling for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and nearly £6,000 towards local health facilities.

The revised plans for the homes. (Image: Focus On Design)

Bath and North East Somerset Council has also secured contributions to local facilities in Midsomer Norton – including more than £488,000 towards public open spaces, more than £392,000 for delivering a cycle route near the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone, and £10,000 towards local bus services.

The plans were approved by the delegated power of the council’s planning officers, rather than a public decision by its planning committee east (which handles major applications in the former Mendip area).

Planning officer Tessa Hampden said: “The scheme has been designed to ensure that the future residents have satisfactory living conditions.

“Our officers are satisfied that the development would protect the amenities of neighbouring occupiers and users, and will provide an adequate standard of amenity for the benefit of the proposal’s future occupiers.”

David Wilson Homes has recently been completing construction on the Delamere Park development of 82 homes north of Nunney Catch roundabout, with work expected to begin shortly on more than 220 homes either side of the B3092 The Mount at the southern edge of Frome.

The council announced shortly before Christmas that a public consultation would begin in mid-February 2024 on sites which could replace the five struck out of the Mendip Local Plan Part II – which included the White Post site and two others on the edge of Midsomer Norton.

A decision remains pending on plans for 190 homes on the opposite side of the A367, which were put forward by Persimmon Homes Wessex in April 2022.

Curo’s plans for 54 homes on the third previously allocated site – on Orchard Vale – were refused by councillors in November 2023.

The final, amended version of the Mendip Local Plan Part II is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for approval in the autumn.

Work on the new Somerset-wide Local Plan is being carried out separately to this review. with this new plan due to come into force by April 2028.