A new housing development of 32 homes is being proposed for a greenfield site in the small village of Milborne Port, located on the Somerset-Dorset border. The site, situated south of Court Lane near Sherborne, lies on the northern edge of the picturesque Blackmore Vale.
Previously, Burrington Estates sought permission to build 22 homes on this land but the application was refused in February 2024. Now, Poole-based Bracken Developments Ltd. has submitted revised plans to build 32 homes at the same location, with Somerset Council expected to reach a decision by early summer.
Access to the estate will be from the western end of Court Lane, and the development will include a village green at its center. However, none of the homes will be designated as affordable housing due to viability challenges. These issues arise from required engineering and drainage work, as well as the need to bury or reroute overhead cables crossing the site.
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A spokesperson from Ken Parke Planning Consultants, representing the applicant, said: “This is a well-considered and high-quality scheme making efficient use of land on the village edge. The proposal offers a sensitive and proportional residential development that respects the surrounding area and nearby heritage assets.
“The new homes will be spacious two- and three-bedroom houses, with generous living areas and ample outdoor garden spaces. Additionally, the site will feature green spaces including a village green and a play area for residents.”
Milborne Port has experienced notable housing growth over the past decade. Developers have increasingly focused on this village, as well as the similar-sized villages of Henstridge and Templecombe, amid delays in larger Somerset settlement projects.
In recent years, Bovis Homes completed The Hamlets, a 46-home development near the western entrance of Milborne Port, just north of the busy A30 Sherborne Road. Redcliffe Homes is currently selling the last remaining properties at its Gascoigne Park development on Station Road, which consists of 65 homes, a convenience store, and a community hub. Additionally, permission has been granted for 58 more homes on Wheathill Lane to the east.
Somerset Council’s decision on the Court Lane proposals is anticipated by early summer, determining whether this new phase of growth will proceed.