The battle to halt a disputed housing development in Castle Cary has progressed as efforts to initiate a judicial review move forward.
In April 2019, Yarlington Housing Association secured permission on appeal to construct 27 new homes at the Foxes Run site, located off Bridgewater Buildings on Castle Cary’s southwest edge. After a merger in late 2020, Abri replaced Yarlington and inherited the development plans.
Residents and local historians have urged Abri to abandon the scheme, citing claims that the land may harbor an unexploded World War II bomb dropped by the Luftwaffe in 1942. Abri has strongly denied the presence of any such ordnance.
Controversy escalated when reports emerged that initial site clearance began in April 2022 despite expired planning permission. In October 2022, local councillor Henry Hobhouse called for the permission to be revoked.
In August 2024, Abri sought to modify several planning conditions to facilitate construction, a move approved by the Planning Inspectorate. In response, Hobhouse launched a judicial review process with legal support funded via a GoFundMe campaign, formally submitting concerns to the Planning Inspectorate.
The Foxes Run site is situated between Bridgewater Buildings and the existing residences on Remalard Court, with only Bridgewater Buildings providing vehicle access. The narrowness of the roads and potential traffic congestion have become focal points of residents’ objections.
Abri stated in July 2024 that the project would deliver “a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme for local households,” emphasizing its importance to the council’s housing supply goals.
However, Hobhouse, one of Castle Cary’s two Liberal Democrat councillors, criticized the planning inspector’s November 2025 site visit report, alleging several inaccuracies. He particularly challenged the portrayal of traffic conditions on Mill Lane, noting that waste lorries have been rare and that the inspector underestimated the impact of heavy vehicles.
“The plan involves delivering approximately 3,200 tonnes of building materials, leading to numerous heavy goods vehicle movements,” Hobhouse asserted. “This will disrupt the safety, peace, and daily routines of residents in Brookfields, Mill Lane, and surrounding areas.”
Acuity Law, representing Hobhouse, identified three key grounds for the judicial review challenge. If the review is approved, a one-day hearing could take place before the end of 2026 with a decision expected in early 2027.