Plans for a landmark development of 620 homes in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, have been approved for the second time by local councillors, marking a significant milestone for the town’s growth.
The application, submitted by C. G. Fry and Son alongside the Duchy of Cornwall Estate in July 2018, envisions a large-scale community on land south of the A371 Cannard’s Grave Road. After extensive negotiations and delays caused by phosphate concerns, the scheme—which also encompasses a primary school, care home, and commercial area—received renewed approval from Somerset Council’s planning committee east in early September 2025.
This support was reaffirmed despite recent changes in phosphate mitigation strategies required to protect the Somerset Levels and Moors. The development is set to deliver the majority of new housing identified for Shepton Mallet over the next decade, aligning with allocations made in the 2014 Mendip Local Plan Part I and the 2025 Shepton Mallet Neighbourhood Plan.
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Access to the site will be primarily via Cannard’s Grave Road, featuring a new roundabout to improve entry to the nearby Tadley Acres estate. Of the 620 homes, 30%—or 186 units—will be affordable, meeting Mendip’s targets for housing developments of this scale.
The planned primary school, positioned near the main road, might be constructed outright by the developer or funded through an £8.1 million contribution for council-led construction, depending on site viability. Additional financial support includes nearly £258,000 for special needs education in the area and £276,000 intended for local NHS services, benefiting the Grove House Surgery and Park Medical Practice.
The development will enhance connectivity with new pedestrian and cycling paths integrated throughout the site, improvements to existing footpaths, a pedestrian crossing over the A371, and around £25,000 allocated for upgrades to the Strawberry Line or similar active travel routes.
Environmental safeguards are a critical element due to the site’s location within the River Sheppey catchment, which affects phosphate levels in regional watercourses. While earlier approval relied on a reservation notice securing phosphate credits generated from fallowing agricultural land, the increased availability of these credits has eliminated the need for such a notice, subject to councillor confirmation.
Public concerns were raised regarding the accuracy of wildlife and habitat assessments, with assurances from planning officers that ecological reports will be rigorously reviewed in subsequent applications.
Community voices, including former Shepton Mallet Neighbourhood Plan chairman Richard Thomas, emphasized the importance of including a community centre within the development. Council members echoed this need, debating the absence of dedicated communal indoor space amidst plans for public open areas and a community orchard.
Despite these concerns, the committee voted overwhelmingly—10 in favour, one against, with one abstention—to approve the amended plans. The next step involves submitting detailed reserved matters outlining housing design and layout, with construction anticipated to begin as early as 2027 if approvals proceed smoothly.