FRESH plans have been submitted for a large housing development on a site which councillors feared would threaten the heart of a village near Wellington.

Bristol-based Hallam Land Management Ltd, which is part of Henry Boot plc, was refused planning permission in August, 2022, by the former Somerset West and Taunton Council (SWT) for a development of up to 80 homes and a ‘local centre’ with businesses and hot food takeaway outlets which would extend Cotford St Luke to its north west.

But six months later the company won an appeal against the refusal, and the development is due to be started shortly by Lovell Homes.

Now, Hallam Land has submitted a new plan for up to another 80 homes on nearly 19 acres adjacent to the approved site, off Dene Road.

An artist’s impression of the landscape-led entrance to Hallam Land's proposed new housing development in Cotford St Luke. IMAGE: pad Design.
An artist’s impression of the landscape-led entrance to Hallam Land's proposed new housing development in Cotford St Luke. IMAGE: pad Design. ( )

Planning agent Andrew Somerville, of Nexus Planning, Reading, said the built-up area of Cotford St Luke had since been ‘significantly extended’ by the allocation of land for 60 homes plus employment units on the eastern side of the village, while a further application for 47 homes was still to be determined.

Mr Somerville said planning policies recognised the village as a sustainable settlement ‘which should continue to grow beyond its original boundaries’.

He said 25 per cent, or up to 20, of the new Hallam homes would be ‘affordable’ with a mix of sizes and tenures.

Mr Somerville said public consultation was carried out in July and August this year but only 53 people responded despite a leaflet drop to 590 properties, of whom 58 per cent were against any new housing development, mostly because of a lack of infrastructure.

He said SWT before it was taken over by Somerset Council had failed to meet its requirement to have a housing land supply for five years into the future, meeting only 3.75 years, which with an expected increase in local housing need would put pressure on existing sites.

Mr Somerville said with many proposed developments held up by the need to mitigate phosphate emissions, the council should take the opportunity to support sustainable housing proposals which could mitigate their own phosphate impact such as Hallam’s, which would do so by fallowing nearby agricultural land.

It was calculated the new development would generate more than £2.1 million of spending annually in local shops and more than £964,000 in tax revenue each year, including £90,000 in council tax.

Mr Somerville said it would also support the employment of 248 people and provide two apprenticeships, graduates, or trainees.

A spokesperson for Hallam said the company would ‘facilitate’ the development by securing planning permission and potentially delivering infrastructure on the site.

The company would then sell on the site either in whole or in phases to a single or multiple housebuilders/housing associations.

The Cotford St Luke development would be of high quality and a ‘positive and distinctive addition’ to the village, accommodating an inclusive range of new homes and associated infrastructure with green space, extensive new planting, and integrated transport options.