Plans to construct 24 new homes in the picturesque Somerset village of Milverton have been unanimously refused by local councillors following lengthy discussions. The application, submitted by Wellington-based developer R & K Building Ltd in October 2022, proposed building on agricultural land adjacent to the existing Tuckersmead homes on Butts Way.
Despite Somerset Council officers recommending approval, the planning committee west, which oversees major developments within the former Somerset West and Taunton area, voted against the proposal at their meeting in Taunton on 25 August. Key issues cited included strong local opposition, highways safety concerns, and significant objections to the architectural design of the proposed homes.
The site in question is located at the western edge of Milverton, approximately half a mile from both the primary school and the village cricket club, and north of existing allotment gardens. The development would have featured a new access road from Butts Way and provided 64 parking spaces. Among the 24 proposed dwellings, most were planned as four-bedroom or larger homes, with six designated as affordable housing units to meet the council’s 25% target for developments of this size within the former Taunton Deane area.
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Local residents voiced their concerns during the meeting. Tom Boxall, owner of a neighbouring property, criticised the plans for disregarding key principles set out in the Taunton Deane development plan, highlighting that the site extended beyond the area earmarked for development and that the housing would be overbearing relative to existing homes.
Milverton Parish Council clerk Kathryn Howard also challenged claims about local transport links, noting the limited bus service schedule and stressing the need for appropriate infrastructure to support both current and future residents.
Councillor Gwilym Wren, representing the Upper Tone division containing the site, expressed no objection to development there but raised serious concerns about the proposed access arrangements, highlighting road safety issues such as a garden gate directly opposite the entrance and large HGV traffic nearby. He warned that the development would fundamentally alter the character of Butts Way, which he described as a “lovely little entrance to the village.”
Councillor Dave Mansell called for a better attempt to explore shared access options with neighbouring Tuckersmead to reduce the number of new access points onto Butts Way, emphasising the importance of safe pedestrian routes into the village.
The council’s highways officers formally objected to the plans on safety grounds, a position supported by Councillor Andy Hadley, who cited increased collision risks and criticised prior situations where highways objections had been absent, limiting grounds for refusal.
Most notably, Councillor Stephen Pugsley strongly criticised the design of the homes, comparing them to the stark socialist realist architecture of the Nowa Huta district in Krakow, Poland. He highlighted Milverton’s status as one of Somerset’s most important and attractive historic settlements and argued that new development should be carried out with great sensitivity to local character. He acknowledged the value of affordable housing but maintained that such developments could respect local architectural traditions, unlike the proposals presented.
Following approximately two hours of debate covering these issues, the committee voted unanimously to refuse the application, upholding concerns about the site’s suitability, design, access and infrastructure provisions.