‘Turning village into town without the facilities defies good planning’

UP to 100 new homes will soon be built in a local village - despite conconcerns that the local school won't have enough space to cope.

- DANIEL MUMBY Local democracy journalist

Keinton Mandeville LVA LLP put forward outline plans in July 2022 for 120 new houses south of the B3153 High Street in Keinton Mandeville, located between Somerton and the busy A37 to Yeovil and Shepton Mallet.

These plans - revised down to 100 homes following consultation with Somerset Council's planning officers ~ attracted more than 550 objections from local residents, citing traffic levels, over-development and pressure on the village’s primary school. But Somerset Council’s planning committee south (which handles major applications in the former South Somerset area) narrowly voted to approve the plans on Tuesday, June 17, arguing it could not successfully defend any appeal by the developer.

The development site comprises three fields south of the B3153, ending near the village hall and the existing Lakeview housing development constructed by Galion. Access to the new homes would be from a new exit at the north-western corner of the site, with the existing public right of way which runs south of the main road being preserved.

As part of the development, new allotments and a community orchard will be created at the south-east corner, with new parking spaces for the village hall potentially being provided. Of the 100 homes proposed for the site, 35 will be either affordable rent or social rent - meeting the council's target for any new development of ten homes or more.

Fletcher Robinson, a planner at CPRE Somerset, was among those who criticised the proposals when the planning committee south met.

He said: “Turning this village into a town, without the facilities of a town, is the opposite of good planning.