A new development in the small Somerset village of Templecombe is set to provide more affordable housing than initially expected, following a partnership between developer Vistry Partnerships and the Abri housing association. The site on Bowden Road, located on the southern edge of Templecombe near the Dorset border, previously received outline planning permission for up to 140 homes and a community facility in November 2023 under Gleeson Strategic Land Ltd.
After the legal agreements were finalised in March 2025, Vistry Partnerships acquired the site and submitted revised proposals in January 2026 maintaining the original number of homes. Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the application before Christmas 2026.
If approved, half of the 140 new homes on the site will be affordable, a significant increase from the usual 35% requirement within the former South Somerset area. The affordable homes will be available through social rent, affordable rent, and shared ownership schemes to meet local housing needs.
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Access to the development will be facilitated by a new junction on Bowden Road near its intersection with West Street. A spine road will run through the site, linking the homes to the potential community facility, which may be a village hall or a new medical centre to replace the existing Templecombe Surgery-a relocation or expansion previously identified as necessary.
Pedestrian and cycling access will be provided via the busy A357 Combe Hill, using an existing driveway, with provisions for emergency vehicle use as required. Wessex Water is currently installing a new water main at the junction, with related roadworks expected to remain until 18 September.
In addition to housing and community facilities, the development will feature two children’s play areas, a community orchard, and extensive green landscaping designed to buffer existing residences and the adjacent countryside.
Vistry Partnerships' collaboration with Abri extends beyond Templecombe, delivering 314 affordable homes across three southwest England sites, including projects in Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
Susan Scholfield, regional managing director of Vistry Bristol, highlighted the partnership’s commitment to creating quality homes in areas where they are most needed, from brownfield regeneration to new mixed-tenure communities. Likewise, Sally Ingham, Abri’s director of development, emphasised the impact of these homes in supporting local communities and Abri’s ambition to deliver 20,000 homes by 2036.
Templecombe has attracted considerable developer interest in recent years, partly due to its mainline railway station offering hourly services to London Waterloo and Exeter St. David’s, making it appealing to commuters. Local estate agents describe the village as an attractive location featuring an ancient parish church, primary school, doctor’s surgery, community café, Co-op store, and convenient access to nearby towns such as Wincanton and Sherborne.
With a decision on the Bowden Road proposals imminent, there is potential for the plans to be reviewed by the council’s planning committee, depending on recommendations from local representatives. Recent changes to UK planning laws mean the decision may be made by planning officers behind closed doors unless the committee intervenes.