Plans for 40 new homes in Curry Rivel unanimously approved

Maple West Partnership submitted outline plans in March to build 40 new homes west of Maple Road in Curry Rivel, between Langport and Taunton.

The developer held extensive consultation with local residents and the parish council in 2025, claiming that it represents "a logical extension to the existing built-up area" of the village and will make much-needed contributions to local services.

Somerset Council's planning committee south (which handles major applications within the former South Somerset area) gave the plans its unmitigated backing on Tuesday (September 15), despite local residents' concerns about flooding.

The site lies to the west of the existing homes on Maple Road, bordered to the north by several properties on Dyers Road, which serves as the northern boundary of the village.

Artist's impression of 40 new homes on Maple Road in Curry Rivel (Image: Maple Wood Partnership)

Access to the new homes will be from Maple Drove (not far from the Stanchester Way children's play area), with a new bridge being constructed over the existing watercourse near the eastern boundary.

A pedestrian access will be provided at the north-western corner onto Dyers Road, with an attenuation basin being created at the southern edge to reduce the risk of flooding to those living on Parsonage Place.

Of the 40 homes proposed for the site, 14 will be affordable - meeting the council's target of 35 per cent affordable housing for any new development of ten homes or more.

The developer will also provide nearly £110,000 towards play areas, sports pitches, changing rooms and youth facilities in the village and more than £23,000 for local health services - which could be allocated towards further improvements at Langport Surgery.

Dave Greene, who lives on Parsonage Place, warned the committee in Yeovil on Tuesday afternoon (September 15) that building on this site could increase the risk of localised flooding throughout the village.

He said: "Some pictures would indicate that this is a nice little green area with no real issues with regard to drainage and flooding. I can tell a completely different story.

"On the eastern side of the site, there is a large, wide ditch that runs through all the way through Parsonage Place, and the history of that is somewhat upsetting to residents.

"There has considerable concern and discussions about the flooding issue that have occurred in this area.

"The northern end of the site, at Dyers Road, is inaccessible very often because of the amount of flooding that occurs there through the ditches which aren't particularly well maintained."

"The residents of Parsonage Place appear to have been totally ignored. I'm not an expert, but I know what I have seen over the past nine years."

Plans for 40 homes on Maple Road in Curry Rivel (Image: Reed Holland Architects)

Since Curry Rivel lies within the River Parrett catchment area, additional mitigation will need to be put in place to prevent any net increase in phosphates on the Somerset Levels and Moors.

This mitigation will most likely take the form of phosphate credits, generated by the fallowing of agricultural land elsewhere in the catchment.

Michael Pancheri, who lives on Maple Road, said: "40 new homes means possibly up to 60 or 70 more cars in and out twice a day, with people going to and from work , mums taking and collecting children from school, plus various service vehicles and delivery vans.

"There are always vehicles parked at the kerb on Stanchester Way and Maple Road. Two-way traffic along this stretch of road is awkward enough.

"The result of all this extra traffic trying to thread its way through the parked vehicles and negotiate the tricky junction with the A378 will increase significantly the risks of traffic jams, delays and vehicle collisions."

Proposed access to 40 new homes on Maple Road in Curry Rivel (Image: Google Maps)

Councillor Tim Kerley (Liberal Democrat, Somerton) spoke in favour of the plans, arguing that the improved drainage being delivered alongside the new homes would reduce the risk of flooding to neighbouring residents.

He said: "One of the problems we have with flooding is that, quite often, you need a developer to clear existing problems. The developer seems to have taken this into account.

"Our highways team has got no major objections, and the active travel link is quite a healthy and welcome part of this development.

"In planning terms, I think that this is a bit of a no-brainer.”

Councillor Martin Wale (Conservative, Chard North) said: "When driving through Curry Rivel in the winter, we all know that one side of the main road is usually underwater.

Councillor Tim Kerley (Liberal Democrat, Somerton) (Image: Somerset Council)

"There has been and probably always will be a very, very serious risk of flooding in this area - it's something which is generational, frankly.

"Anything we do must be very carefully tested before we approve this. I hope that will take place at the next stage of the planning process."

Councillor Stephen Page (Liberal Democrat, Somerton) added: "This is a reasonable number of houses on this particular site, and Curry Rivel does have quite a substantial infrastructure to support these houses."

Councillor Sue Osborne (Conservative, Ilminster) said there were no legal grounds on which the council could refuse permission, pointing to a recent appeal in her division.

She said: "I don't honestly think we can turn this down.

Councillor Sue Osborne (Conservative, Ilminster) (Image: Somerset Council)

"Curry Rivel has a population of about 2,500 people, and we’ve actually seen and approved bigger developments than this in much smaller communities.

"Galion won its appeal for its development for 49 homes by the village hall in Horton, which has a population of about 300 - so the precedent has already been set."

The committee voted unanimously to approve the plans after around 45 minutes' debate.

A reserved matters application, providing further detail on the design and layout of the new homes, is expected to come forward in the new year.

Following recent changes to UK planning law, a decision on this latter application is likely to be taken behind closed doors through the delegated powers of the council's planning officers.

However, the plans could come before the planning committee south if the two Curry Rivel and Langport division members and its chairman deem it to be necessary.