Rural communities across Somerset are rallying together to oppose what they describe as “poor planning” by Somerset Council amid rising government housing targets. At the forefront of this resistance is the village of Keinton Mandeville near Somerton, where residents formed the campaign group SHOCK (Stop Housing Obliterating the Character of Keinton) after the council approved outline plans for 100 new homes on the village’s western edge in June 2025.
Determined to challenge the council’s decision, SHOCK has been crowdfunding an ambitious £70,000 to fund a judicial review that could overturn the approval. Recognizing a shared struggle, SHOCK has now joined forces with other affected communities to create Somerset Communities Raging Against Poor Planning (SCRAPP), which held its inaugural meeting in late January.
Simon Baker, a spokesperson for SHOCK, expressed the frustration felt across rural Somerset: “Many rural communities are being threatened by large-scale housing development that overwhelms local infrastructure, neglects the needs of residents, and risks destroying the rural character of our county. Groups like SHOCK have sprung up in numerous villages to oppose developments that extend beyond village boundaries onto productive farmland.”
READ MORE: A303 Closed Following Three-Car Collision Near Stonehenge
READ MORE: 200 New Homes Greenlit Near A303 in Somerset Following Public Vote
Since the founding of SHOCK, additional planning approvals have followed. In October 2025, the Planning Inspectorate allowed Galion Homes, a Glastonbury-based developer, to build 30 more homes north of Church Street in Keinton Mandeville. Meanwhile, Mudford Parish Council won permission from the High Court in December 2025 to pursue a judicial review against the council’s approval of 765 homes at the Up Mudford site near Yeovil.
The Friends of Mudford Action Group (FOMAG), supporting the judicial challenge, argue that the massive development would increase traffic congestion, strain local services, and exacerbate flood risks. These concerns mirror those voiced across Somerset’s rural settlements.
The SCRAPP alliance invites representatives from community action groups, parish councils, and concerned citizens to join their fight against unsustainable development. Their next meeting is scheduled for January 23 at Keinton Mandeville Village Hall, aiming to build a united front to influence local planning decisions.
Somerset Council is expected to launch its consultation on the new Local Plan this spring, which will revise housing targets in response to government mandates. Rural communities like those in SCRAPP hope to ensure their voices are heard and that thoughtful, responsible planning prevails.