Plans to build 49 new homes on the northern edge of Bruton, a charming Somerset town, have been approved by Somerset Council. This development sits adjacent to a forthcoming doctors' surgery and marks the latest residential expansion following approvals for 125 homes elsewhere in Bruton within the past year.
Earlier approvals saw the green light for 65 houses off Wyvern Close, which includes land allocated for the new surgery, and 60 homes off Brewham Road, near the town’s railway station. Now, Strongvox Homes is poised to deliver an additional 49 houses on the A359 Cuckoo Hill, just north of the new healthcare facility.
The site, currently an agricultural field bordered by the town cemetery and allotments, will be accessed via the A359, close to the entrance of the Longcroft estate, another development by Acorn Property Group. The scheme emphasizes low-density, balanced growth—featuring predominantly southern residential clusters, a central public open space, and an attenuation pond designed to minimize flooding risk.
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Boon Brown Architects, representing Strongvox Homes, explained that the design respects the rural character of Bruton, creating a parkland-like setting with homes thoughtfully integrated around existing landscape features. Importantly, 17 of the 49 homes will be affordable, with the layout offering suitable amenities and parking to enhance residents' quality of life.
The new development also includes provisions for pedestrian and vehicular access to the new GP surgery planned to replace the current overcrowded facility on Patwell Lane, which serves over 5,700 patients. NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board has secured funding contributions exceeding £20,000 towards the surgery, supplemented by nearly £27,000 from the adjoining site’s developer.
Principal planning officer Jane Fuller noted the pressing need for housing in the area, highlighting that the benefits of the proposal outweigh any negative impacts, especially given the lack of a five-year housing land supply.
Environmental considerations are integral, as Bruton lies within the River Brue catchment. To avoid increasing phosphate levels on the Somerset Levels and Moors, temporary fallowing of adjacent land is planned until Wessex Water completes upgrades to the local wastewater treatment plant by 2030.
Construction is anticipated to commence in early 2026, subject to all pre-commencement conditions being met, bringing much-needed homes and healthcare facilities to this exclusive Somerset community.