Local councillors have approved plans for up to 35 new homes to be constructed behind the Starbucks and Travelodge at Beckington Services in Somerset. The London-based OG Group submitted the outline permission application in February for development off Trowbridge Road, in the small village near Frome.
The proposal met strong opposition from residents, who fear increased pressure on the village’s aging sewerage system and worsened traffic congestion. Despite these objections, Somerset Council’s planning committee east decided in favor of the development. More detailed plans are expected to be submitted in early 2026.
The site, located south of Beckington Services at the village’s northern edge, is adjacent to the busy A36 connecting Frome and Bath. Previous attempts by Redrow Homes to develop 30 homes nearby were rejected by the Planning Inspectorate in 2022, with a subsequent plan for 20 homes refused by councillors in July.
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Access to the new housing will be via Trowbridge Road, with a new spine road running behind the Travelodge. Located just south of Starbucks, the development also includes pedestrian and cycling access to Goose Street, providing convenient routes to the GP surgery and local amenities.
Of the 35 homes, 11 will be affordable dwellings, meeting the council’s 30% affordable housing requirement for developments with more than 10 homes in the Mendip area. The project will contribute nearly £44,000 toward improvements at Bath’s Royal United Hospital, over £22,000 for expanding the Beckington Family Practice, around £92,000 for early years provisions, and nearly £16,000 toward a nearby multi-use games area (MUGA).
Additionally, almost £58,000 will be allocated to improve the Beckington and White Row roundabouts, critical junctions that may benefit from government support through the Selwood Garden Community initiative.
Residents voiced concerns during the December 2 council meeting in Shepton Mallet. Dr. Andrew Tyler highlighted the “inadequate wastewater infrastructure,” warning that developments in Beckington risk contaminating the designated bathing waters at Farleigh Hungerford with untreated sewage. He further indicated that upgrades to the waste water treatment plant are not planned until 2035.
In late 2022, Beckington and nearby Rode received £248,000 from the Somerset Rivers Authority to enhance sewage and surface water flood management, including improvements on Goose Lane.
Ben Richards of the Beckington Neighbourhood Plan steering group remarked on a recent residents’ survey, noting the development site ranked fourth out of five possible locations. He stressed that any further housing growth should align with the Neighbourhood Plan’s vision.
Longtime local farmer Clive Winterbourne expressed traffic safety concerns, citing the complex road junctions and heavy machinery usage in the area. He noted the nearby BP petrol station serves as one of only two stations between Bath and Salisbury, underlining the intensity of traffic flow.
Liberal Democrat councillor Adam Boyden, whose division includes the site, urged postponement until the Beckington Neighbourhood Plan is finalized in 2026. He acknowledged the development’s storage tank would mitigate sewage overflow issues during storms, slightly easing his environmental concerns.
Conservative councillor Barry Clarke emphasized Beckington’s “disproportionate growth” as unfair to the village, drawing parallels to similar issues in Coleford. He criticized the development’s compact design and problematic access points.
Lib Dem councillor Ros Wyke raised questions about the planned active travel link’s accessibility, stressing the need for suitable gradients, track quality, and width to accommodate people with disabilities, based on her experience with regional greenway projects.
Despite the debate and these concerns, the planning committee approved the development by an 8-2 vote. A reserved matters application detailing the design and layout of the homes is anticipated by summer 2026.