Nearly 50 affordable homes are set to be built near one of Somerset’s principal working quarries after local councillors approved revised plans. Stoke St Michael LVA ALLP won permission on appeal in January 2023 to construct 47 homes to the east of Coalpit Lane in Stoke St. Michael, adjacent to the disused Sammy’s Quarry and less than a mile from the active Moons Hill Quarry.
Bath-based Curo Finance Ltd. and Barnstaple’s Clayewater Homes submitted updated plans in August 2024, reducing the number of houses to 45. Somerset Council has now endorsed these amendments, paving the way for construction to begin early next year.
Located at the northern edge of the village—roughly halfway between Shepton Mallet and Radstock—the site lies close to the local primary school and the Grade II* listed St. Michael’s Church. Access will be via Coalpit Lane, with a new pedestrian link connecting to Mill Lane to improve local footpath links.
READ MORE: Historic Winterstoke Road Bridge, Serving 20,000 Drivers Daily, Set for Christmas Day Demolition
READ MORE: Somerset Farmer’s Plan to Site 36 Shipping Containers Near River Brue Rejected
The development will consist mainly of two- and three-bedroom homes, all classified as affordable housing, priced at up to 80% of the market rate thanks to grant funding secured from Homes England.
Community voices have expressed strong reservations. Dr. Simon Farnsworth, a local resident, criticized the plan’s impact on village infrastructure, describing Stoke St. Michael as a small community with limited amenities and narrow lanes. He warned of the burden on existing sewerage systems and voiced concerns about high-density development on an exposed ridge using artificial materials.
Amanda Taylor, another local resident, highlighted issues about privacy and overshadowing. She pointed out that two-storey homes on steep slopes would overlook nearby bungalows, affecting residents’ privacy. Taylor also raised the problem of inadequate parking, which already forces pedestrians into the road amid heavy vehicle traffic.
Councillor Barry Clarke expressed frustration over increasing housing density and questioned the environmental benefits and infrastructure capacity of such developments, referencing traffic congestion issues at other Curo sites.
Nevertheless, some councillors welcomed aspects of the proposal. Councillor Helen Kay praised features like air source heat pumps, solar panels, and a local lettings plan, though she suggested revisiting the choice of building materials to better blend with existing dark stone houses typical of the village. Councillor Ros Wyke advocated for enhanced walking and cycling infrastructure to reduce car dependency.
Councillor Martin Dimery emphasized the importance of affordable housing, applauding the developers for committing to 100% affordable or social rent homes—a contrast to other schemes where affordable housing often forms only a minority.
After a thorough debate lasting around two hours, the planning committee approved the application by a vote of ten to one, with one abstention. Somerset Council is anticipated to decide soon on separate plans for 38 homes on Frog Lane, located on the opposite side of Stoke St. Michael.