30 homes planned near Somerset village playing fields

The village of Ashill lies a few miles north of Ilminster, just west of the busy A358 which links the village to the A303, Taunton and the M5.

MJL Holdings (SW) Ltd. has put forward proposals to build up to 30 new homes south of Windmill Hill Lane, next to the village's recreation ground.

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the proposals by the end of the year.

The site lies at the eastern edge of the village, within walking distance of the primary school, the village hall, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the St. Mary's Green housing estate being delivered by Summerfield Homes.

Plans for 30 homes on Windmill Hill Lane in Ashill (Image: Polden Planning)

Access will be delivered on Windmill Hill Lane, removing part of the existing hedgerow, with the homes wrapping around the playing fields and Parsonage Lane.

Pedestrian links will be created behind the existing hedge to "provide a buffer between new and existing houses", linking the site to the playing fields and the public right of way to the south.

An attenuation pond will be created at the north-eastern corner of the site, intended to reduce the risk of localised flooding to the new homes and existing properties in the village.

The homes will range from two- to five-bedroom properties in size, but only one will be affordable - a "specialised and adapted" four-bedroom bungalow.

A spokesperson for Polden Planning (representing the applicant) said that the site could not deliver further affordable housing due to the "abnormal" and prohibitive cost of delivering phosphate mitigation to offset the new homes (with the cost of off-site phosphate credits being estimated at £524,700, not including VAT).

The spokesperson added: "There would be enhancement of community facilities through the provision of off-site play and open space contributions, NHS contributions and payments through the community infrastructure levy (CIL).

"The application is commensurate with the scale and character of Ashill as per previous planning and appeal determinations relating to the site.

"The delivery of housing would increase the sustainability of Ashill in general through increased patronage of local services from construction workers and future occupiers."

The development will provide nearly £83,000 towards enhancements to public open space and nearly £18,000 towards the nearest NHS facilities.

Outline planning permission to build 25 homes on the same site was granted by South Somerset District Council in March 2019.

Planned site of 30 homes on Windmill Hill Lane in Ashill (Image: Daniel Mumby)

However, a reserved matters application to take these proposals forward was dismissed on appeal in June 2025 - with the outline permission having now lapsed.

Ros Coleman, who lives in the village, said there were "significant problems" with the proposed development and questioned whether there was enough local demand for the new homes.

She said: "Unlike Broadway and Horton, which have similarly-sized developments being built, Ashill does not have a shop, a Post Office, a GP surgery, a large hall, pubs or clubs. There is very little for youngsters to do.

"Owning a car is essential; there is one bus per day into Ilminster from Monday to Friday, giving two hours in the town. This can prove problematic for GP appointments, dental appointments, hairdressers and club activities.

"The current application for 30 dwellings is far in excess of any other development there has ever been in Ashill - with 106 bedrooms it could easily double the current population of the immediate area.

"The field itself is not that large and the development would be out of proportion with developments in the rest of the village due to its size."

The council is expected to make a decision on the latest proposals before Christmas.