NEW homes could soon be built in a small Somerset village a stone’s throw from the site of the county’s new £4bn ‘gigafactory’.

The village of East Huntspill is around three miles’ from the Gravity enterprise zone where initial work is under way on Agratas’ new gigafactory, which will begin operations by the end of 2026.

Notaro New Homes Ltd. has put forward plans to build 20 new homes on the B3141 Church Road, south of the village hall.

Somerset Council is expected to make a ruling on the proposals by the early-summer.

Rather than using the existing access to the village hall, a new access point will be created immediately to the south, with the homes being arranged around a looping spine road.

Of the 20 homes planned for the site, eight will be affordable – and all eight will be “restricted to persons with a local connection to the village”.

The Bridgwater-based developer previously put forward plans to build 45 homes on the same site back in February 2018; however, these were withdrawn just over a month later.

A spokesman for Williams Planning Ltd. (representing the applicant) said: “The site is well-located in terms of access to local services and facilities available within walking and cycling distance.

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“Pedestrian routes are available immediately adjacent to the site and a safe crossing is available, providing a connection from the site to the surrounding amenities.

“The development will provide 20 additional dwellings, including the identified local need for eight affordable homes for the area, and thereby directly addresses an identified housing need.

“The development is designed to be reflective of local character and it is considered that the site can be delivered without significant adverse impacts.”

The developer is currently fighting an appeal against the council over 49 new homes on the Cavalla Mews site in Berrow, with a ruling by the Planning Inspectorate being expected in the spring.

The company is also seeking to bring forward 47 new homes on North Villas in the village of Cotford St. Luke near Taunton, a short walk from Dene Barton Community Hospital.

Numerous local residents have already objected to the plans via the council’s official planning portal, raising concerns about flooding and over-development.

Ms. R. Nicholls, Withy Road, said: “East Huntspill has no amenities to offer.

“The village shop closed two years ago, one of the two pubs has closed and the other only opens for skittles, the post office closed years ago and the primary school has limited spaces.

“The amount of traffic using the village has increased considerably in recent years; unfortunately, the traffic flow will only increase with the building of the Gravity site.”

James Forsyth, of Church Close, added: “Siting additional homes next to the village hall – which is used for noisy wedding celebrations and such – could cause tensions in the future.

“The wisdom of constructing on land where contaminated cattle carcasses were buried is also questionable.”