Somerset councillors have postponed a decision on the contentious proposal to build 150 homes in Horton, a small village near the A303. The plan, brought forward by Gleeson Land in June 2025, aims to develop land on Broadway Hill, just north of the dual carriageway between Ilminster and the Blackdown Hills.
During a recent meeting of Somerset Council’s South Planning Committee in Yeovil, council officers recommended approval of the development. However, committee members ultimately voted to defer the decision following significant concerns raised about insufficient public transport, lack of local services, and no secured funding for the nearby primary school.
The proposed site is located south of Broadway Hill, opposite the existing village hall and near a separate approved development of 49 homes by Galion Homes on Broadway Road. Access to the site would be provided via Broadway Hill, with plans for a pedestrian link to Horton Playing Field, which could potentially be enhanced with new play areas.
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Current council policies stipulate that 35% of the new homes must be affordable, meaning approximately 52 houses should meet this criterion unless developers prove it to be financially unviable.
Local resident Ross Stacey, speaking on behalf of the parish council, strongly criticized the plan for the adverse impact it could have on Horton. Stacey highlighted the overcrowding issues at the nearest primary school and the absence of any financial contribution towards education within the proposal.
“There is no capacity at Broadway primary school, and the education team initially estimated a required contribution exceeding £2.5 million,” he noted, citing a recent reversal on this position as troubling. Stacey also emphasized the poor connectivity, noting that essential services such as the school and GP surgery are located beyond comfortable walking distance, with limited pavements and unsafe cycling routes. The local bus service was described as extremely limited and inadequate for daily travel needs.
The neighbouring villages of Horton and Broadway have faced increasing development interest due to their proximity to key roadways, including the A303 and the A358.
Further objections were voiced by Mark Wilkins from Broadway Parish Council, who dismissed the submitted traffic plan as “a complete work of utter fiction” and warned of the detrimental effects increased traffic would have on narrow roads and bridges prone to flooding.
Councillor Mike Best expressed surprise that no funding had been allocated for education, especially given the area’s pressing demand for special needs school places.
Additional councillors voiced concerns over the scale of the development, with worries that a 50% increase in Horton’s size was excessive and the plan’s overall coherence was confusing.
The committee recognized a challenging situation, noting that refusal of the application could trigger a costly public inquiry under the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025, due to the development exceeding 150 homes.
Ultimately, with a vote of nine to one, the committee deferred the decision to allow for further information on education contributions, public transport availability, local amenities, and the relationship between Horton and Broadway.
The next planning meeting is scheduled for July 21 in Yeovil.