A major new housing development in Yeovil will proceed as planned after a judicial review brought by Mudford Parish Council was dismissed by the High Court.
The Abbey Manor Group received outline planning permission from Somerset Council in October 2024 to develop the Up Mudford urban extension. This project includes 765 homes along with commercial spaces, a community hub, and an expansion of Primrose Lane Primary School. The development site lies north of Primrose Lane and is set to drastically increase the housing stock in the area.
After finalizing legal agreements in July 2025—which include walking and cycling improvements on the A359 Mudford Hill and Lyde Road—the project faced a legal challenge. Mudford Parish Council sought a judicial review in December 2025, hoping to halt both the Up Mudford development and a neighbouring 252-home scheme at Sock Hill.
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Following a hearing on April 28 at the Bristol Civil Justice Centre, the High Court ruled in favour of Somerset Council, allowing the development to move ahead. At present, Mudford comprises just 339 homes, so these plans could potentially quadruple its size over the next decade.
Mudford Parish Council had contested the project based on concerns about flooding risk, traffic congestion, insufficient affordable housing, infrastructure limitations, and historic anthrax contamination in the area. The hearing focused on whether the council’s planning policy required actual provision of employment land and a neighbourhood centre, or if simply allocating and marketing land for these purposes was sufficient.
The court accepted the developer’s position that allocating land and marketing it to potential businesses satisfies legal obligations without guaranteeing buildings or businesses will be established. As a result, Mudford Parish Council decided not to appeal the ruling and will be responsible for £10,000 in legal costs under the Aarhus Convention.
James Cary, chairman of the Friends of Mudford Action Group (FoMAG), expressed concern about the implications of the ruling. He highlighted that the decision highlights loopholes in planning policy that allow critical infrastructure and employment opportunities to remain uncertain while housing developments proceed. Cary stressed the importance of Somerset Council using its powers over phasing, reserved matters, and conditions to ensure promised facilities and employment opportunities are genuinely delivered.
FoMAG plans to actively engage with upcoming reserved matters applications for Up Mudford to monitor design, layout, and infrastructure delivery schedules closely.
Meanwhile, the neighbouring Sock Hill development, granted outline permission in March 2024, has been sold to Bloor Homes South West, a developer active across Somerset.
Councillor Oliver Patrick, vice-chairman of Somerset Council’s south planning committee, welcomed the court’s decision. He noted that while developers must allocate space for employment land, it is not their responsibility to ensure buildings are constructed or occupied before homes are built. Patrick praised Somerset Council’s planning officers and reaffirmed that the council’s decisions were made in line with policy and proper processes.