Homes approval met with call for community site

PLANS for a “once-in-a-generation” development of 620 homes have been approved by local councillors for a second time.

- DANIEL MUMBY Local democracy journalist

C. G. Fry and Son, in conjunction with the Duchy of Cornwall Estate, applied back in July 2018 for outline permission to build up to 620 new homes on land south of the A371 Cannard’s Grave Road in Shepton Mallet.

Following years of negotiations and delays brought on by the phosphates crisis, the plans - which also include a primary school, a care home and commercial space - were approved by Somerset Council’s planning committee east in early-September 2025.

‘The same committee has now reiterated its support for the proposals in light of changes in the planned phosphate mitigation to offset the new homes.

‘The site is designed to deliver the bulk of Shepton Mallet’s new housing over a 10-year period, being allocated in both the Mendip Local Plan Part I (which was ratified in December 2014) and the Shepton Mallet Neighbourhood Plan (which was formally adopted in mid-August 2025).

‘The primary vehicular access to the site will be from Cannard’s Grave Road, with a new roundabout being constructed to replace the existing entrance into the Tadley Acres estate (via Little Brooks Lane).

Of the 620 new homes planned within the site, 30 per cent will be affordable (the equivalent of 186 properties), meeting the council's target for any new development of ten homes or more within the former Mendip area.

The new school (which will be delivered near the main road) could be delivered through one of two means, depending on the viability of the site; either the developer will construct it entirely under its own steam, or it will set aside the land and provide the council with more than £8.1m to build the facility.

Additional contributions will made to special needs schooling elsewhere in the Shepton area (to the tune of nearly £258,000) and to local NHS facilities (with nearly £276,000 being shared between the Grove House Surgery and the Park Medical Practice).