Twenty-four newly constructed affordable homes on Foldhill Lane in the village of Martock, near the A303, have remained vacant for almost a year due to ongoing legal disputes between the developer and Somerset Council.
The Stonewater Housing Association secured planning permission in March 2024 to build these homes opposite the La Fontana dementia nursing home. Although construction was completed nearly a year ago, none of the properties have been occupied because the required Section 278 agreement is still incomplete.
David Polson, representing his former partner and their four-year-old daughter—one of the families awaiting their new home—has voiced frustration over the lack of communication. Despite repeated inquiries, Stonewater and the council have failed to provide a clear timeline or explanation for the delays.
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Mr. Polson’s daughter, Indie, who is non-verbal autistic and attends a special school in Yeovil, currently resides with her mother in a house of multiple occupation (HMO). Due to safeguarding restrictions, visitors are not permitted to their current home, resulting in a sense of isolation that is affecting Indie’s emotional well-being and development. Originally, the HMO was deemed a temporary solution while waiting for the new home.
The holdup is linked to Somerset Council’s unfinished Section 278 agreement, which governs developer obligations for improvements to public highways—such as safe access points and pavements. On-site estate roads remain incomplete, and access to the new homes is restricted by fencing.
The project has faced multiple setbacks, including a nearly four-year delay caused by a county-wide phosphates crisis requiring environmental mitigation measures. Recently, the council approved related applications for off-site highway improvements and public artwork on the site, signaling progress.
A Somerset Council spokesperson acknowledged the distress caused by the delay and cited land-ownership issues as a primary factor. The council is actively collaborating with Stonewater to finalize the required mitigation and planning consents, aiming to make the homes available as soon as possible.
Stonewater’s director of development operations, Matt Crucefix, emphasized the organization’s commitment to resolving the delays quickly. He explained that procedural complexities like Section 278 agreements can extend project timelines but highlighted the importance of continuous partnership with the council to expedite completion.
Both Stonewater and Somerset Council remain dedicated to overcoming the remaining hurdles, prioritizing the families waiting to move into their new affordable homes after nearly a year of uncertainty and hardship.