Somerset councillors have postponed a decision on a contentious planning application for approximately 150 new homes in Horton, a small village near the A303. The proposal, put forward by Gleeson Land in June 2025, aims to develop land on Broadway Hill, north of the A303 dual carriageway between Ilminster and the Blackdown Hills.
Despite planning officers recommending approval, the Somerset Council’s Planning Committee South—responsible for major developments in the area—voted overwhelmingly to defer their decision. The postponement follows concerns raised about insufficient public transport, inadequate local services, and a lack of funding commitments for the nearby primary school.
The development site is situated south of Broadway Hill, opposite the village hall and near a proposed development of 49 homes by Galion Homes, approved on appeal in October 2024. Vehicular access would be limited to Broadway Hill, with a planned pedestrian path linking the site to Horton Playing Field, which may be upgraded with new pitches and play equipment.
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Under current council policy, 35% of the proposed homes (approximately 52 units) must be affordable unless financial viability can be proven otherwise by the eventual developer.
Local residents and parish councils have voiced strong opposition. Ross Stacey, speaking for Horton Parish Council, criticized the plans for the strain they would place on the village’s limited infrastructure. He highlighted the absence of educational contributions despite the school’s capacity issues and noted the poor public transport options and unsafe cycling routes. Stacey described the local convenience store as insufficient to meet community needs, labeling it “a very small convenience store with limited hours.”
Broadway Parish Council echoed these concerns. Mark Wilkins condemned the submitted traffic plan, calling it “a complete work of utter fiction,” warning of dangerous congestion on narrow, flood-prone rural roads and bridges that lack winter maintenance.
Councillors raised further issues. Deputy Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Best was surprised at the lack of funding for education, especially for children with special needs. Conservative Councillor Martin Wale described the report as “confused” and deemed a 50% population increase for Horton excessive. Councillor Tom Power voiced support for affordable housing but questioned the scale of this development, calling the planning report “confusing.” Liberal Democrat Councillor Jenny Kenton questioned the sustainability of the location, cautioning that resistance would be fierce if the plan concerned her own town of Chard.
The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 complicates the decision-making process, requiring that any development of 150 or more homes rejected locally will automatically escalate to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), potentially triggering an expensive public inquiry.
Councillor Kevin Messenger encapsulated the committee’s dilemma by likening it to facing “a double-barreled shotgun”: refusal could provoke government intervention, while approval risks local backlash. The committee’s vote to defer, with a 9-1 majority, aims to gather additional information on education funding, transport availability, public amenities, and the relationship between the adjacent villages of Broadway and Horton.
The committee will revisit the application in their next session scheduled for July 21 in Yeovil.