Construction will soon begin on 33 new affordable homes in a Somerset village after legal agreements were finalized, paving the way for development later this year.
In November 2020, Mendip District Council partnered with Aster Housing to deliver up to 160 low-cost homes across five sites in Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, and Street. Aster, based in Devizes, Wiltshire, submitted plans in November 2021 to build 33 homes on Portland Road, Street, adjacent to the village cemetery.
The plans received approval from Somerset Council’s planning committee in June 2025. Although the confirmation was delayed by nearly a year due to ongoing legal sign-offs, local councillor Liz Leyshon expressed optimism that construction would start soon, stating, “we’ll have spades in the ground very soon.”
READ MORE: Cost of Reopening Portishead Railway Soars to Nearly £200 Million
READ MORE: Flat Owners Face Sudden Service Charge Surge from £7 to £270 Overnight
The development will be situated west of the cemetery and south of the village substation, bordered by Cemetery Lane and the existing Portland Drive homes. Due to Cemetery Lane’s narrowness, access will be from a new entrance on Portland Drive near the current T-junction.
Designated in the Mendip Local Plan Part II to deliver a minimum of 32 new homes, the project will feature a mix of one-bedroom flats to three-bedroom houses. All homes will be offered as either social rent or intermediate rent, with intermediate rent capped at 80% of the local market rate.
Alongside the housing, over £45,000 will be allocated to enhance public open spaces and play areas, specifically benefiting Woods Batch Park. Managed by Street Parish Council following a devolution agreement, the park will offer the main pedestrian route connecting the new homes to local amenities. Improved active travel links for cyclists and pedestrians along the nearby A39 Westway will complement this access.
The development faced delays due to the local phosphates crisis, requiring additional mitigation to ensure no net increase in phosphates affecting the Somerset Levels and Moors. To address this, Aster will offset the phosphate impact by purchasing credits from Manor Farm in Prestleigh, where cattle have been removed.
Councillor Leyshon, representing the area, highlighted the pressing demand for affordable housing, especially from younger residents. She reflected on her previous efforts as a Mendip district councillor to focus housing projects in Street and expressed strong hope for the Cemetery Lane development’s imminent start. Meanwhile, planning officer Jennifer Alvis underscored the project’s role in addressing housing shortages and fostering sustainable growth, with benefits outweighing any adverse effects.
Construction is expected to commence before the end of this year, with the first homes potentially available to those on the Homefinder Somerset housing register by mid-2027.