Revised plans have been submitted for the construction of 90 homes on a field near Tor Rugby Club in Glastonbury, Somerset—a site known for frequent flooding. Originally granted outline planning permission in May 2023 after a successful appeal, Waddeton Park Ltd is now moving forward with more detailed proposals in collaboration with Minster Property Group, headquartered in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.
The site, located on Lowerside Lane, lies between two allotment areas and is close to both Tor Rugby Club and Glastonbury Football Club’s grounds on Godney Road. It was designated within the Mendip Local Plan Part II as a logical extension to the neighboring Bligh Bond Road development, where 133 homes have already been built by Keepmoat Regeneration and Sanctuary Housing Association.
Key elements of the revised plans include preserving both allotment sites and establishing a new access point from Lowerside Lane. A spine road will run along the southern boundary, with housing clustered at the southern end. The northern portion of the site is set aside for play areas, attenuation ponds, and landscaping designed to buffer the development from Common Moor Drove and adjacent countryside. Pedestrian access will also be provided onto Common Moor Drove near Butler Carnival Park, a local cultural hub.
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Jake Stentiford of Surface Planning, representing the developers, emphasized the landscape-led approach: “The layout integrates significant green infrastructure—extensive open spaces, a pocket park, woodland walk, and children’s play areas—with ample native trees and hedgerows to create a cohesive sense of place. Parking is sensitively designed to maintain a pedestrian-friendly environment linked with public open spaces.”
Located about a mile from Glastonbury town center, the site has convenient access to an active travel route along A39 Wells Road via an existing underpass. Residents will also be within a 20-minute walk of the Glastonbury Surgery on Feversham Lane, which recently received government investment to add two clinical rooms as part of a broader £1m upgrade to Somerset GP surgeries.
Despite these positives, local resident Will Parfitt has voiced strong objections. Parfitt argues the flood-prone land is unsuitable for housing and should instead be converted into additional allotments to improve community food security—a concern heightened by global instability. He also criticized the narrow and poorly placed vehicular access near a busy bypass, and raised questions about the impact of expanding the town’s boundaries.
Parfitt stated, “The field floods even without heavy rain and isn’t the right place for houses. More allotments would benefit more people and help ensure food security. The access road’s location and conditions pose safety concerns. This extension needs thorough consideration, as better development sites are available nearby.”
Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the detailed proposal before Christmas. Given the development’s scale and significance, the issue is likely to be debated publicly by the council’s planning committee east, which handles major applications in the Mendip area, rather than resolved via delegated officer powers.