Up to 24 new homes could soon be built at the northern end of Barton St David, a small village in Somerset, pending approval of planning proposals. The development has been put forward by Blue Spruce Ltd., a developer based in Milborne Port near Sherborne. The site is located on Main Street, just off the busy A37 road between the expanding villages of Butleigh and Keinton Mandeville.
The proposed plans aim to provide much-needed local housing while fitting in with the village’s existing character and environment. The site, currently used for agriculture, lies within walking distance of The Barton Inn and will feature a new access road at its southeastern corner. The western edge of the site will be preserved as public open space, including a play area and landscaping that will serve as a green buffer between Barton St David and the open countryside.
The housing mix will range from two to four-bedroom homes, with nine of the 24 units allocated as affordable housing. This complies with the council’s target of 35% affordable homes on developments of ten or more properties within the former South Somerset district.
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Representing the applicant, Boon Brown Architects has emphasized that the scheme has been carefully designed to be a low-density development that respects the site’s natural features. The layout considers constraints and opportunities of the location, aiming to maximize biodiversity and community amenity. The development will incorporate suitable dwellings, parking, play areas, and landscape enhancements for future residents to enjoy.
Barton St David falls within the River Brue catchment area, where development must avoid increasing phosphate levels in the Somerset Levels and Moors. To address this, Blue Spruce plans to offset the impact by purchasing phosphate credits generated through the fallowing of agricultural land elsewhere in the catchment.
The project will also contribute over £15,000 to support expansion of local doctor’s surgeries, with funding directed to one of four nearby practices to accommodate growing healthcare demand.
Somerset Council is expected to make its decision on the proposals by early summer. A decision on a related scheme from Blue Spruce, involving 45 homes on Pound Road in Broadway near Ilminster, is also anticipated around the same time.