A growing village in Somerset is set to receive 33 new affordable homes following the approval of development plans by local authorities. This project is part of a wider partnership formed in November 2020 between Mendip District Council and Aster Housing to deliver up to 160 low-cost homes across five sites in Frome, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, and Street.
Aster Housing, based in Devizes, Wiltshire, submitted plans in November 2021 for building 33 homes on Portland Road in Street, adjacent to the village cemetery. With Somerset Council — which replaced the district council in April 2023 — now granting approval, construction is expected to begin before Christmas.
The development site is located west of the existing cemetery and south of the village’s substation, bordered by Cemetery Lane and homes on Portland Drive. Access to the new homes will be through a new entrance on Portland Drive, avoiding the narrow Cemetery Lane, close to the current T-junction.
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The site is designated in the Mendip Local Plan Part II, approved in December 2021, for a minimum of 32 new homes. The plan offers a mix of one-bedroom flats up to three-bedroom houses, all available as social rent or shared ownership to meet the community’s diverse housing needs.
At the June 3 planning committee meeting in Shepton Mallet, Councillor Liz Leyshon noted the high demand for affordable housing, with over 12,000 households registered on Somerset’s Homefinder list. She highlighted the convenience of nearby amenities, including schools and the High Street, accessible via improved paths through Woods Batch Park and an underpass under the A39.
The project experienced delays due to a phosphates crisis impacting developments across the Somerset Levels and Moors. To address environmental concerns, Aster Housing committed to purchasing phosphate credits generated from reducing cattle numbers at Manor Farm in Prestleigh near the Bath and West Showground.
Council member Ros Wyke expressed support for the homes but urged securing additional funds from the development for walking and cycling infrastructure improvements. She emphasized the importance of active travel routes for current residents and future needs.
Following an hour of discussion, the planning committee unanimously approved the project with an added condition ensuring financial contributions toward active travel enhancements.
However, plans for six affordable homes at Norbins Road car park in Glastonbury were rejected during the same meeting. Meanwhile, a separate proposal for 71 homes on Moorland Road in Street is pending a decision later this year, reflecting ongoing efforts to expand affordable housing in the region.