Plans have been submitted to build up to 30 new homes near the playing fields in the small Somerset village of Ashill, pending approval from Somerset Council expected by the end of the year.
Ashill is located a few miles north of Ilminster, just west of the busy A358 road, which connects the village to the A303, Taunton, and the M5 motorway.
The proposed development by MJL Holdings (SW) Ltd. would be situated south of Windmill Hill Lane, adjacent to the village’s recreation ground. The site lies on the eastern edge of Ashill and is within walking distance of key local amenities, including the primary school, village hall, Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the nearby St. Mary’s Green housing estate developed by Summerfield Homes.
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Access to the new homes would be from Windmill Hill Lane, necessitating the removal of part of the existing hedgerow. The houses are planned to wrap around the playing fields and Parsonage Lane. Pedestrian paths behind the hedges are proposed to act as a buffer between the new and existing houses, while linking the development to the playing fields and a public right of way to the south.
An attenuation pond is planned for the north-eastern corner of the site to help reduce localised flooding risks for both new and current residents.
The development would feature homes ranging from two to five bedrooms; however, only one affordable home is proposed-a specialised and adapted four-bedroom bungalow. A spokesperson for Polden Planning, representing the applicant, explained this limited affordable housing provision results from the “abnormal” and prohibitive costs of phosphate mitigation required to offset environmental impacts. The estimated cost for off-site phosphate credits is around £524,700, excluding VAT.
The spokesperson added that the development would contribute to enhancing community facilities through off-site play and open space contributions, NHS funding, and payments via the community infrastructure levy (CIL). They emphasised that the proposal aligns with Ashill’s scale and character based on previous planning decisions and that the new housing would support the village’s sustainability by increasing patronage of local services during and after construction.
Financial contributions from the development are expected to include nearly £83,000 towards public open space improvements and around £18,000 for the nearest NHS facilities.
Previously, South Somerset District Council granted outline planning permission for 25 homes on the same site in March 2019. However, a reserved matters application was dismissed on appeal in June 2025, and the outline permission has since lapsed.
Local resident Ros Coleman voiced concerns about the proposed development, citing “significant problems” and questioning local demand for the new homes. She noted that unlike nearby villages Broadway and Horton, Ashill lacks amenities such as shops, a Post Office, GP surgery, large halls, pubs, or clubs, and offers little for younger residents. Public transport is limited to one bus per day into Ilminster from Monday to Friday, allowing only two hours in town, which poses challenges for attending appointments and activities.
Coleman also highlighted that the 30-house development, with a total of 106 bedrooms, could potentially double the population of the immediate area, and suggested the scale of the project is disproportionate compared to other village developments. She remarked, “The field itself is not that large and the development would be out of proportion with developments in the rest of the village due to its size.”
Somerset Council is anticipated to reach a decision on the planning application before Christmas.