Communities across rural Somerset are banding together to oppose what they describe as “poor planning” by Somerset Council amid increasing government housing targets.
In the village of Keinton Mandeville near Somerton, residents formed the campaign group SHOCK (Stop Housing Obliterating the Character of Keinton) after the council approved plans for 100 new homes on the village’s western edge in June 2025. Determined to reverse this decision, SHOCK has been actively fundraising, aiming to raise £70,000 to fund a judicial review.
Now, SHOCK is joining forces with other rural areas facing large-scale housing developments to establish Somerset Communities Raging Against Poor Planning (SCRAPP). The collective’s inaugural meeting is scheduled for late January.
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Simon Baker, a SHOCK member, expressed frustration shared among rural communities: “Many areas in Somerset are being overwhelmed by large housing developments that strain local infrastructure, disregard residents' needs, and threaten to permanently alter the county’s rural nature.”
Baker continued, “Groups like SHOCK were created to challenge council decisions approving urban-scale developments—such as the 100-home project in Keinton Mandeville on productive farmland beyond the village boundary. We’re not alone; many rural communities face similar struggles. SCRAPP aims to unite these groups to share strategies, amplify their voices, and resist unsustainable planning.”
Since SHOCK’s formation, additional developments have been approved, including a 30-home project north of Church Street by Glastonbury-based Galion Homes. Meanwhile, Mudford Parish Council gained High Court permission in December 2025 to pursue a judicial review of the council’s approval of 765 homes at Up Mudford on the outskirts of Yeovil. This move is supported by the Friends of Mudford Action Group (FOMAG), who cite increased traffic, overstretched facilities, and flooding risks as key concerns.
SCRAPP’s first meeting will be held at Keinton Mandeville Village Hall on Friday, January 23, at 7 p.m. The group welcomes representatives from community action organizations, parish councils, and others committed to opposing unsustainable development and preserving rural Somerset.
Somerset Council is expected to begin consultations on the new Somerset Local Plan in spring, incorporating revised housing targets following the government’s updated requirements.