A significant step towards Chard’s much-anticipated eastern relief road (ERR) has been achieved with the approval of plans for 67 new homes. The outline application, initially submitted in December 2023 by Mr. R & Mrs. C. Blackburn, proposes homes east of the Gillingham Grange care home, featuring a new access point onto the A358 Hornsbury Hill.
Revised proposals in August 2025 introduced a key strip of land between the care home and the new residential development reserved for a future section of the ERR. This corridor is critical to the long-term vision of reducing congestion in the town center.
Although a March planning committee meeting was canceled due to outstanding legal concerns, the Somerset Council’s planning committee south unanimously approved the application on April 21. The development includes a contribution of nearly £420,000 towards eventually constructing the ERR.
READ MORE: Dispersal Order Issued in Quiet Countryside Town Amid Rise in Youth Anti-Social Behaviour
READ MORE: Somerset Mum to Run London Marathon for Minehead Coach Crash Children
Out of the 67 homes, 23 will be affordable, slightly below the council’s target of 35%. The site will also feature a cycle link onto Chaffcombe Road, connecting to Touches Lane and the Stop Line Way, enhancing sustainable transport options into the town.
Beyond housing, the project is set to provide over £1.1 million for education improvements, benefitting local schools including Avishayes Community Primary and Holyrood Academy, as well as early years and special needs provisions. Additional funding will support health service enhancements at local GP surgeries and maintenance of the Chard Reservoir nature reserve paths.
Given the site’s location within the River Parrett catchment, phosphate mitigation is essential. Plans include upgrading nearby septic tanks to package treatment plants that reduce phosphate discharge, protecting the sensitive Somerset Levels and Moors.
Despite the council’s approval, some residents and officials have voiced concerns. Craig Hussey, chair of Chard Town Council’s planning and highways committee, spoke against the development, highlighting risks to local wildlife habitat and flooding vulnerability. He also questioned whether infrastructure and services could handle additional residents given recent job losses in the area.
The ERR has been a long-term aspiration aiming to alleviate traffic congestion at the town center’s busy convent link junction. To date, only a short section—from the A30 to Chard Reservoir completed in 2022—has been constructed. Plans for further sections are in progress, including a 230-home development by Gladman Developments near the A30 Crewkerne Road, approved earlier this year.
The land preserved as part of the Hornsbury Hill development will enable the council to eventually build the relief road, which will incorporate pedestrian and cycle paths. The Section 106 legal agreement mandates that the £419,740 funding towards the ERR must be used within ten years after construction begins.
Adam Garland, the council’s principal planning liaison officer, confirmed the council’s major projects team will oversee design and construction but did not specify a timeline. Upcoming meetings will determine next steps.
Locally, opinions remain divided. Councillor Jenny Kenton expressed concern about responsibility for delivering the relief road and the importance of connecting it properly to the A358. Councillor Martin Wale pointed out that the site is designated for development in the South Somerset Local Plan and supports the application’s feasibility. Meanwhile, Councillor Steve Ashton highlighted the newfound financial resources as a positive step toward realizing the long-delayed relief road.
With unanimous committee approval now secured, a reserved matters application detailing the design and layout of the homes is expected by Christmas, marking another milestone in the ongoing development of Chard.