Nearly 50 new homes could soon be built on the outskirts of Castle Cary in Somerset if an ongoing appeal to the Planning Inspectorate succeeds. Castle Cary LVA LLP submitted an outline application in October 2023 for 46 homes on the B3152 South Street, adjacent to the town’s cemetery.
The proposal was rejected in January 2025 by Somerset Council’s planning committee south, despite the government increasing the county’s annual housing target from 2,669 to 3,769 — a 41% rise aimed at addressing housing shortages. The developer has now appealed that decision, with a final ruling expected by early autumn.
The planned development would be located between the cemetery and existing homes on Cockhill Elm Lane. It includes pedestrian access connecting to the Macmillan Way long-distance footpath. However, the access route features narrow pavements and limited facilities for cyclists and mobility scooters.
Of the 46 homes, 16 would be affordable dwellings, satisfying the 35% target set out in the South Somerset Local Plan. Positioned within the River Brue catchment area, the site requires special measures to prevent any phosphate increase that could harm the nearby Somerset Levels and Moors.
To address this, the developer proposes installing a package treatment plant managed by Albion Water. This plant would filter household wastewater to reduce phosphate levels before discharge into the watercourse.
The council rejected the plans citing two main reasons. With the government’s revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and new housing targets, councils are under pressure to approve developments unless there are strong grounds for refusal. Somerset currently lacks a five-year land supply, which further complicates justifications for turn-downs.
Greenslade Taylor Hunt, representing the developer, described both refusal reasons as “unsound” given the council’s failure to meet housing needs in recent years. They emphasized the proposal’s social, economic, and environmental benefits, stating that any harms would be limited and would not outweigh those benefits.
The Planning Inspectorate confirmed the appeal will be decided through written submissions rather than an in-person public inquiry. Interested parties can submit formal representations online by June 24 using case reference number 3365456.