More than 100 metres of hedgerow near Meadows Surgery in Ilminster, Somerset, are poised to be removed to facilitate access to a new housing development. Persimmon Homes South West secured outline planning permission in January 2024 to build up to 360 homes on Canal Way, adjacent to the doctors' surgery.
The Exeter-based developer has submitted detailed plans outlining the access arrangements, which require the removal of approximately 120 metres of hedges along with modifications to the existing surgery car park. Somerset Council is expected to decide on these proposals by autumn 2024.
The development site lies between Canal Way and Herne Hill, an area designated as a local nature reserve since 2018. To create site access, the southern arm of the Canal Way roundabout will be extended southwards, necessitating the loss of hedgerows east of the medical centre. The surgery’s car park, which also serves Summervale Medical Centre and other local health services, will be reconfigured to make way for a wide access road accompanied by a shared pedestrian and cycle path along its western edge.
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This new path will connect to existing cycle lanes on Canal Way and the Stop Line Way active travel route towards Donyatt, which is slated for upgrades as part of the development. Additionally, two pedestrian crossings will be introduced—one near the medical facilities and another on Canal Way linking to Lower Meadows.
Simon Coles, Director of Planning at Carney Sweeney representing Persimmon, emphasized the importance of timely approval. He explained that the initial plan aimed to remove the hedgerow before November 2025 and construct access during the winter of 2025/26. This schedule would allow home deliveries starting spring 2026, with residents moving in by autumn.
However, delays in obtaining outline permission have required a revised approach. The Canal Way site is among over 50 projects in the former South Somerset area experiencing setbacks due to the phosphate crisis, which mandates additional environmental mitigation to prevent increased phosphate levels on the Somerset Levels and Moors.
To address this, Persimmon intends to temporarily leave about 300 acres of council-owned farmland between Herne Hill and Sea unplanted to offset phosphate emissions from the new homes.
Despite the planning committee’s January 2024 vote to grant permission, negotiations continue over contributions to community facilities in the Section 106 agreement. This agreement must be finalized before the outline consent can be issued and detailed plans for the homes considered.
Mr Coles urged the council to approve the application promptly to meet national housing needs and address the local housing supply deficit. He stated, “We trust the council will approve this application without delay so that new market and affordable homes can be delivered expediently on this allocated site.”
The council has faced criticism from developers over delays in finalizing Section 106 agreements. Ilchester landowner Patrick Young warned that a planned 200-home development could collapse if the council does not formalize signed agreements soon.
A decision on the Canal Way access plans is anticipated by autumn. Persimmon plans to submit the reserved matters application for the residential section in the coming months. Notably, a previous reserved matters application covering the first 144 homes was withdrawn in June 2024.