Updated proposals have been submitted for the construction of 230 new homes near the site of the former Watchet Music Festival in Somerset.
For 25 years, the Watchet Music Festival was a much-loved annual event held near Parsonage Farm off Brendon Road (B3191), with the last festival taking place in summer 2022. However, organizers from the Watchet Live Community Interest Company (CIC) announced in June 2023 that the festival would no longer continue following the tenant farmer’s decision not to renew their lease on the land.
In December 2023, the Wyndham Estate put forward plans for a development comprising 230 homes alongside new commercial spaces created by repurposing existing farm buildings. The newly amended scheme, maintaining the same housing count, has now been formally submitted. Somerset Council is expected to reach a decision on this application in spring 2026.
READ MORE: Nearly 3,000 Leonardo Workers Threaten Autumn Strike Over Pay Dispute
READ MORE: Popular Channel 5 Series “Inside Longleat” Returns for a New Season
Located on the eastern side of Brendon Road, close to the town cemetery and within walking distance of historic St. Decuman’s Well, the site will be developed in two phases. Phase one involves establishing a new access road from Brendon Road and converting the Parsonage Farm buildings into commercial units, including 11 light industrial spaces for local businesses.
Phase two will extend the new access road into the residential area, accompanied by allotments and orchards planned for the southern part of the site. The new homes will be concentrated in the northern and eastern sections, and existing public footpaths will be enhanced to improve connectivity, including better links to Woodlands Road.
The housing mix will vary from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, with 35% — approximately 80 homes — designated as affordable housing. A representative from LHC Design, acting on behalf of the applicant, highlighted the site’s sustainable location, offering future residents convenient walking, cycling, and public transport options to access Watchet’s town centre and nearby amenities.
Design considerations include preserving existing hedgerows along Brendon Road where feasible and maintaining a respectful distance from the listed Parsonage Farm farmhouse to create communal areas for recreation and nature.
Watchet is poised for substantial housing growth, as the town and surrounding villages remain unaffected by the phosphate restrictions impacting many developments across Somerset. Currently, Summerfield Developments is progressing on the 250-home Liddymore Park project on Watchet’s southeastern edge, with the final 175 homes approved recently. Additionally, approval has been granted for 139 homes along Normandy Avenue, with Edenstone Homes receiving the green light in May 2024.
The Wyndham Estate is also advancing projects nearby, including the Orchard Brooks development of 90 homes on Doniford Road in Williton and permission for 350 homes on A39 Priest Street, where construction is underway following amended plans by Lovell Homes.
Ongoing consultations have taken place between Wyndham Estate and stakeholders connected to the former festival, including discussions about potentially reinstating the event on part of the site and providing space to store carnival equipment. Talks are also underway with Watchet CIC regarding community uses and with local scouts about the possibility of a new building within the development.
However, there are concerns among local residents and officials. Councillor Rosemary Woods, whose division includes the site, has voiced strong objections, citing strain on local infrastructure and roads, already burdened by recent developments. She emphasized traffic pressures, especially on the road from Washford Cross into Watchet, and highlighted the limited capacity of local services, including healthcare.
While Councillor Woods acknowledged the benefits of creating employment spaces within the development, she emphasized that job generation does not compensate for the significant increase in housing density.
The planning committee for the former Somerset West and Taunton area is expected to consider the application publicly in spring 2026 given the project’s scale and impact.