The owners of Halfway Farm, a derelict and overgrown farmhouse situated between Chew Magna and Pensford in Somerset, have lodged their seventh planning application to redevelop the site. The farmhouse, described by the owners as only safe to enter “with extreme caution,” sits alongside several crumbling farm buildings beside the busy B131 road.
Mr. and Mrs. Gibson, the property owners, seek to demolish the dilapidated barns and convert one into four residential homes, while preserving the farmhouse itself. However, Bath and North East Somerset Council has consistently refused planning permission, citing concerns over green belt protections and safety hazards for pedestrians.
After their fifth planning application was rejected in 2023, the Gibsons appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. Planning inspector Alexander O’Doherty upheld the refusal, cautioning that access to the nearest bus stop involves a hazardous walk along a fast-moving, busy road.
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Despite the setbacks, the Gibsons remain hopeful. A recent application states that many elements of their previous proposals were compliant with regulations, suggesting a fair and consistent review by the council is warranted.
Local community support stands with the owners; Stanton Drew Parish Council has described the current state of the buildings as “a total eyesore” demanding urgent attention. Nevertheless, planning officials continue to maintain that housing development here would violate green belt policies and potentially increase pedestrian risks along the main road.
The debate highlights the tension between preserving rural green belt land and addressing longstanding dereliction, with the outcome yet to be decided.