Plans to build up to 200 new homes near the A303 in Somerset have been officially approved, almost a year after local councillors voted in favour of the development. The site, near Ilchester, has been farmed by the Young family for over a century and sits adjacent to the recently developed Hainbury Meadows estate.
The proposal includes not only residential units but also commercial spaces, a community hub, and a sizable nature reserve extending to the dual carriageway. Despite significant support from the planning committee, the project faced considerable opposition from the parish council and local residents.
Following the January 2025 approval, protracted negotiations delayed the signing of the Section 106 agreement between the council and the Young family until December. These delays raised concerns about jeopardizing the development and frustrated the Young family, who pushed repeatedly for council cooperation.
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The homes will be concentrated along the southern edge of the site, with pedestrian links to neighbouring estates and a new vehicular access to Somerton Road. The commercial and community hub may include a sports facility, convenience store, or health centre, located close to the Norseland cheese factory and the village primary school.
A large portion of the land—nearly 62 acres—will be designated as a nature reserve. To mitigate traffic noise from the A303, a bund will also be built, along with additional pedestrian access points and parking for 40 vehicles.
Of the 200 homes, 70 will be affordable, meeting the council’s target of 35% affordable housing for developments of this scale. The development will also contribute substantial funding to local services: nearly £424,000 for early years provision, about £640,000 for primary school expansion, and over £169,000 for special needs education. Youth sports facilities will receive £426,000 in improvements, alongside two new on-site play areas.
Patrick Young, representing the family, expressed frustration during a planning committee meeting in April 2025 over the lack of progress connecting with the council’s solicitor for Section 106 negotiations. The council apologized and eventually finalized the agreement late in the year, despite implementing emergency measures to address a backlog of planning applications.
The council’s chief planning officer, Alison Blom-Cooper, affirmed the development’s compliance with policies regarding highways, ecology, landscape, drainage, heritage, and residential amenity. Because Ilchester lies within the River Yeo catchment, specific measures have been included to control phosphate levels, including fallowing over 25 hectares of agricultural land until necessary upgrades to local wastewater treatment are completed by 2030.
The next stage will involve submitting a reserved matters application detailing the design and layout of the homes, with public consultation expected before the end of the year.