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Search the Public Notice PortalPlans for 56 new homes a short walk from a Somerset primary school have been unanimously backed by local councillors at the second time of asking.
Bloor Homes South West has been constructing the Somerton Mead development north of Bancombe Road in Somerton - the first three phases of which comprise a total of 130 new homes.
The Swindon-based developer put forward plans in September 2024 to extend the housing estate north of Bradley Hill Lane, with a further 56 homes being constructed mere yards from King Ina Church of England Academy.
Somerset Council's planning committee south (which handles major applications within the former South Somerset area) deferred a decision on the plans in late-April, asking for more information about the proposed access arrangements and for child safety concerns to be addressed.
Confronted with new information in Yeovil on Tuesday afternoon (June 16), the committee voted unanimously to back the plans - despite lingering fears about the impact this would have on traffic levels near the school.
The site comprises an L-shaped parcel of land north of Bradley Hill Lane, bordered to the east by the school and land set aside for the expansion of the academy's playing fields.
The new homes will be accessed by extending Maple Drive across Bradley Hill Lane, with a "raised traffic island" and give way markings being installed - meaning traffic can still move along the latter road in either direction.
The plans originally envisioned 65 homes being provided, but this was reduced to 56 following negotiations with the council's planning officers.
Of these 56 homes (which range from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses), 20 will be affordable (meeting the council's 35 per cent target for the former South Somerset area), comprising 16 social rent properties and four shared ownership homes.
A new children's play area will be provided near the entrance to the site (not far from the existing school playing fields) and an attenuation pond will be installed to reduce the risk of localised flooding.
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In addition to the affordable housing, Bloor will provide nearly £616,000 towards local schools, with just over £469,000 being earmarked for King Ina and nearly £147,000 for early years provision.
The development will also provide nearly £167,000 towards local youth facilities, playing pitches and changing rooms (which could be used at the Recreation Ground off the B3153 Langport Road) and just over £35,000 to expand the Buttercross Health Centre on Behind Berry (which is in the process of merging with six other local surgeries).
Mo Fletcher, who sits on Somerton Town Council, told the committee on Tuesday afternoon (June 16) that local residents remained concerned about the additional traffic which the new homes would generate.
She explained: "One of our main concerns is the problem of people actually coming out of the estate, coming down Bradley Hill Lane and joining the traffic on Northfield, which is a major congestion point at the opening and closing times of the school.
"Bloor kindly met with us on several occasions; they'd come up with their special idea of putting traffic controls on the exit, which they say would stop people coming into Bradley Hill Lane.
"We did ask them if they could send us either a video or some sort of evidence of that type of construction in reality, so we could see how it actually works - but nothing actually came from them for us to see this system of putting in raised kerbs and bollards in the centre.
"It's got to be big enough for fire engines and dust-carts to go in and out - and you risk having cars coming out from the original Bloor home who could then turn right down the lane. We’re very concerned by that.
"Bradley Hill Lane can't actually be closed because we have farmers who use it to get to their sheep."
While the main entrance to the school is on Northfield, a secondary gated entrance exists at the south-western corner of the playing fields, which would allow pupils from the new estate to enter and exit the grounds rather than walking along Bradley Hill Lane.
Councillor Jenny Kenton (Liberal Democrat, Chard North) said she still had reservations about where the play area was located within the planned development.
She said: "We've been told that play area should be near housing, so that people can be watch their children playing safely.
"This one seems to have been tucked around a corner, so people would have to go walking down the road with no houses anywhere near it."
Councillor Stephen Page (whose Somerton division includes the site) said he shared Ms Fletcher's concerns about traffic levels.
He said: "I share her concerns about cars exiting the new development. It's disappointing that Bloor Homes didn’t supply a video showing examples of deterrents to people turning left or right – is there anything we can do to make this more robust?
"We all know about rat runs, with cars and drivers trying to find the shortest route.
"This primary school is accessed from Northfield - it's a very narrow road and there's no proper pavement. We’ve got to do everything we can to stop cars exiting onto that road - it really is important in terms of child safety."
Any changes to the public highway network as a result of housing developments (such as new access points or traffic calming measures) are subject to legal agreements between the council and the developer, known technically as a Section 278 agreement.
Such agreements can take a long time to be finalised and implemented - especially if there are land ownership issues present, as has occurred at a Stonewater development on Foldhill Lane in Martock.
Councillor Tim Kerley (the other Lib Dem councillor for Somerton) said the Bloor plans were a good opportunity to address issues surrounding drainage and flooding in and around Bradley Hill Lane.
He said: "There are some legacy drainage issues around the school field.
"We often say that the only way you fix legacy issues is through development and the infrastructure that goes with it.
"I like to think the planned attenuation pond will actually solve some of the problems that we've got up there.
"I cannot see any material reasons to turn this down."
The committee voted unanimously to approve the plans after just under an hour's debate - meaning Bloor will be able to begin construction before Christmas if the necessary legal agreements are signed off speedily.
