Plans for 58 new homes in the small Somerset village of Milborne Port have received detailed approval, paving the way for construction to begin before the end of 2024. The development, located north of Wheathill Lane, was initially proposed by Messrs. Parker, Davis, and White in February 2022. After outline permission was granted in March 2024 by Somerset Council’s planning committee south, the site was sold to Poole-based Wyatt Homes, known for their ongoing Brimsmore Key Site project in Yeovil.
Wyatt Homes has now secured reserved matters permission, allowing them to proceed with the full development. The site sits on the eastern edge of Milborne Port, adjacent to the cemetery, recreation ground, and the nearby Gascoigne Park development—a project featuring 65 homes and a community hub by Redcliffe Homes.
Access to the new properties will be via Wheathill Lane, just east of the existing sports field. To improve local infrastructure, a new pavement will be installed along Wheathill Lane toward Gascoigne Park, and a public footpath bordering the site will be upgraded for better connectivity to the recreation ground.
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The 58 homes will vary from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom houses, with 20 classified as affordable housing. This complies with the council’s target of 35 percent affordable housing on developments of ten or more homes in the former South Somerset area. Additionally, new allotments will be created along the site’s northern boundary, and extra parking spaces will be added near the cemetery.
To address environmental concerns, particularly the impact of increased phosphates on the nearby Somerset Levels and Moors, Wyatt Homes will purchase phosphate credits from fallowed farmland within the River Yeo catchment area. This measure ensures no net increase in phosphate levels.
A spokesperson from Wyatt Homes highlighted the project’s benefits, stating it meets the council’s housing supply needs while providing affordable homes, a biodiversity net gain, public open spaces, allotments, and improved cemetery parking. The company is eager to start construction and work closely with the council to deliver much-needed housing to Milborne Port.
Milborne Port has experienced notable housing growth over the past decade, with developers favoring it and similar-sized villages such as Henstridge and Templecombe. This trend partly stems from delays in larger Somerset settlements. Recent developments include Bovis Homes’ 46-home project called The Hamlets, completed in 2021, and Bracken Developments’ newly submitted proposal for 32 homes south of Court Lane.
The approval for the Wheathill Lane development was granted through delegated powers by planning officers rather than by the planning committee. Principal Planning Officer Michael Lowe emphasized the project’s strong highway layout, adequate parking, and improved distribution of affordable homes. He affirmed that the development promises a high-quality residential addition to the village.
Construction is anticipated to launch before the end of this year, marking a significant milestone in Milborne Port’s ongoing expansion.