Councillors have postponed a decision on a new housing development in Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, amid serious worries about road safety and pedestrian access. The Church Commissioners for England submitted plans in January 2025 for 60 homes and a community hub south of Roughmoor Lane, near the A371, a busy route between Cheddar and Wells.
Somerset Council’s planning committee was poised to approve the development during a meeting in Shepton Mallet but voted unanimously to defer the decision. The delay will last up to six months to address unresolved concerns about pedestrian safety, active travel provisions, and the scale of development.
The proposed site sits at the western edge of the village, nestled between the Robert Glanville Playing Fields and St Lawrence’s Church. Plans include constructing a new junction onto the A371 with a reduction of the speed limit to 20mph, closing Roughmoor Lane, relocating the bus stop, and creating a community green space. The development will cluster homes around a central green and feature an attenuation pond to mitigate flood risks.
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Of the 60 homes, 18 will be affordable, meeting the council’s 30% target for developments of this size within the former Mendip area. Additionally, the project promises over £150,000 for early years education, nearly £61,000 for special needs support, and funds to enhance local health services and the Strawberry Line active travel route.
However, local residents and representatives remain unconvinced. Chris Langdon, leading the Westbury-sub-Mendip Neighbourhood Plan, criticized the highways team’s dismissive attitude toward pedestrian crossing concerns, emphasizing the village’s need for safe access across the busy A371. Resident David Maguire echoed these fears, highlighting past traffic incidents and questioning whether the 20mph limit would provide pedestrians sufficient crossing time.
The lack of a safe crossing means the development includes only a mown path connecting to a footpath through the churchyard and the village center—an arrangement seen as inadequate. Maguire also noted the absence of appropriate multi-user access from the development to the Strawberry Line pathway, which could reduce traffic.
Fletcher Robinson of CPRE Somerset raised objections regarding the development’s impact on the Mendip Hills national landscape, warning that the project would visually constrain the Grade II* listed St Lawrence’s Church and sever its connection to the countryside. He recommended reducing the build area by a third to lessen harm.
Councillor Heather Shearer expressed understanding for the villagers’ concerns about the development’s size, traffic, and landscape impact, emphasizing their willingness to engage constructively with the developer. Councillor Claire Sully highlighted the ongoing safety risks on Somerset roads, stressing the lack of a safe crossing and the presence of dangerous bends near the site.
Although the land is allocated in the Mendip Local Plan Part II for approximately 40 homes, the proposed 60-home scheme exceeds this, prompting calls for more compelling justifications. Councillor Barry Clarke criticized the layout as cramped, comparing it unfavorably to a caravan park and questioning the adequacy of parking and garden space.
After extensive scrutiny, the planning committee agreed to delay the decision to allow developers and stakeholders time to resolve these pressing issues, ensuring safety and sustainability remain at the forefront of any future development.