A plan to build 140 new homes in the growing Somerset village of Templecombe has been updated and is awaiting final approval from local councillors. The revised proposals come after initial plans in 2022 for 160 homes and a community facility on Bowden Lane.
Gleeson Land Ltd., who originally secured outline planning permission in November 2023 for 140 homes on the site, sold it to the Vistry Group. Vistry has submitted amended residential plans, with a decision expected later this year.
Located south of Bowden Road’s existing homes and near a proposed 49-home development by Magna Housing on West Street, the site will feature a new junction off Bowden Road and a spine road linking the houses to a potential community facility. Pedestrian and cycle access will be provided through an existing driveway onto the busy A357 Combe Hill, also usable by emergency vehicles.
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Of the 140 planned homes, 49 will be affordable, meeting the council’s target of 35% affordable housing for developments exceeding ten homes. In addition to housing, the development will include two children’s play areas, a community orchard, and extensive green landscaping to buffer existing homes and the adjacent countryside.
Vistry emphasizes the community-focused design, highlighting a variety of house types that foster a strong relationship with the village and neighboring residences. The development promises interconnected, safe, and attractive spaces that preserve and enhance Templecombe’s architectural character, contributing positively and appropriately in scale to the village.
Importantly, Templecombe lies outside the Somerset Levels and Moors catchment area, exempting it from additional phosphate mitigation requirements that impact other local projects. This has helped fuel significant housing growth in recent years, especially as larger nearby towns such as Chard, Crewkerne, and Yeovil face delays in major developments.
Recent developments in Templecombe include the Knights Meadow project by Tilia Homes, with 70 new houses near the headquarters of Thales, a major local employer. Vistry is concurrently engaged on other significant projects, including the Orchard Grove development in Taunton and 150 homes at Bridgwater Gateway near the M5.
Council planners are expected to make a public decision on the Templecombe housing proposal by late summer, given the scale of the project. A separate application for the community hub within the site will be submitted in due course.