Yeovil Businesses Blame Council for Stifling Growth

Decision on Yeovil Housing Development Delayed Over Road Safety Concerns, Businesses Blame Council for Stifling Growth

The fate of a proposed housing development on Yeovil’s northern edge remains uncertain as local councillors postponed a decision due to concerns about road safety. Meanwhile, local business owners have criticised the council, claiming its indecision is stifling the town's growth.

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Several business owners in the town have contacted Yeovil Real News, over the latest council decision, one store owner said: 'The Council here in Somerset are inept, the town needs a larger population to survive,  you only have to look at the state of the town centre to see that! 

' We need more people to move into the area, to need more retail services to attract brands and local businesses to the currently 'dead' town centre.' 

Another claimed: 'The Council here are stifling the growth of the area, certain councillors want to keep it a sleepy little town for their own personal gains.' 

Gladman Developments and the Somerset Community Foundation submitted plans in December 2023 for 60 new homes on Tintinhull Road, located between Brimsmore Garden Centre and Yeovil Gospel Hall. The development, along with two others nearby, would contribute to the continued expansion of Yeovil towards the village of Chilthorne Domer.

Somerset Council’s planning committee south, which oversees major applications in the former South Somerset area, convened in Yeovil on July 23 to discuss the proposal. However, councillors voted to defer their decision until later in the year to address unresolved concerns about highway safety.

The proposed site for the 60 homes is adjacent to a previously approved development by Gladman for 185 homes, separated by Coppits Hill Lane. The earlier development faced delays due to the phosphates crisis, but was eventually approved in October 2022 with plans for a new wastewater treatment plant to mitigate environmental impacts.

The new development would be served by a new access road onto Tintinhull Road, situated opposite the eastern edge of the Brimsmore key site. Wyatt Homes has already received permission to build over 900 homes, along with a primary school, sports pitches, and other community facilities in this area. Of the 60 homes planned, 21 would be designated as affordable housing, meeting the council's 35% affordable housing requirement for developments of ten homes or more.

Local resident Howard Ashton voiced opposition to the new development during the committee meeting. "Taken together with this Brimsmore development, this is too much too soon. The Brimsmore site should be completed first to assess its impact on the local area," Ashton said. He also raised concerns about the creation of a new junction on the curving, downhill stretch of Tintinhull Road, noting the proximity to the proposed new exit from the Brimsmore development and the existing dangerous hill from Coppitts Hill Lane onto the A37.

In addition to the developments on Yeovil’s northern edge, the town's northeastern side is also set to expand. Plans include 765 homes on the Mudford urban extension site, as well as commercial space, a care home, and an extension to Primrose Lane Primary School. An additional 252 homes may be built on the western side of the A359, pending the outcome of a planning inquiry in 2024.

Councillor Henry Hobhouse (Castle Cary) expressed concerns about the lack of agreed phosphate mitigation measures for the new homes. "The Pen Mill sewage works may not be upgraded until 2030. We cannot approve mitigation that is not already in place," Hobhouse said.

Councillor Martin Wale (Chard North) highlighted the importance of preserving grade two agricultural land, as encouraged by national planning policy. Meanwhile, Councillor Peter Seib (Brympton) argued that the new development should not proceed until the adjacent site is fully developed and the road has been widened.

After more than an hour of discussion, the committee voted nine to two to defer the decision on the proposed development. The council has not yet indicated when the proposal will be revisited.