Plans to build 27 new homes on a site in Somerset, rumored to contain an unexploded World War Two bomb, have been approved by the Planning Inspectorate. The development, located at Foxes Run near Bridgewater Buildings on the outskirts of Castle Cary, had faced opposition from local residents and historians. They claim the land holds a bomb dropped by the Luftwaffe in 1942, which was never removed due to marshy conditions.
Originally granted permission on appeal in April 2019 to Yarlington housing association, the project passed to Abri following a merger in late 2020. Abri has consistently denied the presence of any unexploded ordnance. Work reportedly began in April 2022 despite the expiry of the initial planning consent, prompting local councillor Henry Hobhouse to request a review of the permission that October.
In August 2024, Abri sought changes to the site’s development conditions and subsequently lodged an appeal in May 2025 after Somerset Council delayed its decision. The Planning Inspectorate has now ruled in favor of Abri, allowing construction to commence within months.
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The site, situated between Bridgewater Buildings and Remalard Court, will be accessed solely via Bridgewater Buildings (also known as Mill Lane). The development is planned as a 100% affordable housing scheme aimed at supporting local households and supplementing the council’s housing stock.
Historically, Castle Cary experienced Luftwaffe bombing on September 3, 1942, causing severe damage including the destruction of a goods train and the Station Hotel, alongside the death of a signalman. Local records, including the 1992 publication “Somerset Within Living Memory” by the Somerset Federation of Women’s Institutes, document five bombs dropped near South Cary Lane, with one allegedly landing on the current development site and going unremoved.
In 2022, residents voiced safety concerns on social media using the hashtag #whataboutthebomb. Abri responded that investigations found no historic evidence of unexploded ordnance at the location.
Planning Inspector C. Butcher visited the site in November 2025 and upheld the development. He also approved construction vehicle use of Mill Lane, citing existing usage by service vehicles and highlighting that temporary disruptions are common during development phases. The highways department projected 12 to 15 peak-time vehicle trips, mostly spread between Bridgewater Buildings/Mill Lane and Brookfields.
Inspector Butcher deemed the anticipated noise, disruption, and traffic levels “minor in nature” and not detrimental to highway safety, despite the narrowness and lack of pavement on Mill Lane. He noted that junction improvements could mitigate hazards from parked vehicles and discourage unnecessary lane usage.
This decision paves the way for much-needed affordable housing in Castle Cary while addressing longstanding safety and access concerns.