Up to 30 new homes could be constructed adjacent to the playing fields in the small Somerset village of Ashill, pending approval of submitted plans.
Ashill is located a few miles north of Ilminster, just west of the A358, a busy route that connects the village to the A303, Taunton, and the M5 motorway.
The development proposal, put forward by MJL Holdings (SW) Ltd., involves building up to 30 houses on land south of Windmill Hill Lane, neighbouring the village’s recreation ground. Somerset Council is expected to decide on the application by the end of the year.
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Situated on the eastern edge of Ashill, the site is within walking distance of the primary school, village hall, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the recently developed St. Mary’s Green housing estate by Summerfield Homes.
Access to the new homes would be via Windmill Hill Lane, resulting in the removal of part of the existing hedgerow. The houses would be arranged around the playing fields and Parsonage Lane. Pedestrian paths will be created behind the existing hedge to act as a buffer between the new and current homes, providing links to the playing fields and the public right of way to the south.
An attenuation pond is planned for the north-eastern corner of the site, designed to help reduce the risk of flooding to both the new development and existing village properties.
The new homes would include two- to five-bedroom properties, yet only one is designated as affordable: a specialised and adapted four-bedroom bungalow.
A spokesperson for Polden Planning, representing the applicant, explained that further affordable housing could not be provided due to the “abnormal” and prohibitive costs associated with phosphate mitigation required to offset environmental impacts. The estimated cost of off-site phosphate credits is £524,700, excluding VAT.
They added, “The development would enhance community facilities through contributions to off-site play and open space, NHS services, and payments via the community infrastructure levy (CIL). The proposals align with the scale and character of Ashill, reflecting outcomes of previous planning and appeal decisions relating to this site. The housing would also support the sustainability of Ashill by increasing patronage of local services from both construction workers and future residents.”
The scheme would provide nearly £83,000 for public open space improvements and almost £18,000 to support local NHS facilities.
Previously, outline planning permission for 25 homes on this site was granted by South Somerset District Council in March 2019. However, a reserved matters application associated with that permission was dismissed on appeal in June 2025, and the original outline permission has now expired.
Local resident Ros Coleman expressed concerns about the proposal, citing “significant problems” and questioning whether there is sufficient local demand. She commented, “Unlike nearby Broadway and Horton, which have similar-sized developments, Ashill lacks amenities such as a shop, Post Office, GP surgery, large hall, pubs, or clubs and offers very little for young people.”
Ms Coleman emphasised the reliance on cars, noting the limited bus service: “There is only one bus per day into Ilminster, Monday to Friday, providing just two hours in town, which makes attending GP appointments, dental visits, and other activities challenging.”
She also remarked on the scale of the proposed development: “The current application for 30 dwellings exceeds any previous development in Ashill. With 106 bedrooms, it could potentially double the population of this area. The field is not very large, and the scale of the development would be disproportionate compared to other village developments.”
Somerset Council is anticipated to reach a decision on the scheme before Christmas.