Plans for 30 new homes in village on edge of Yeovil slammed as 'disruptive' and 'dangerous'
Numerous locals have raised strong opposition to the plans
Stephen D'AlbiacContent Editor
Plans for a proposed new housing estate in Montacute have been submitted (Image: Boon Brown)
Plans to build 30 new homes in a village on the outskirts of Yeovil have been slammed by locals as "disruptive" and "dangerous"
Horton Estates Developments Ltd wants to build a new housing estate on land off Masons Lane in Montacute.
The development would also see a new access road linking the site with the slip road leading to the Cartgate Link Road on the A3088.
It is proposed that 35 per cent of the homes will be affordable and placed under the control of a housing provider, if planning permission is granted.
But the prospect of a new housing estate in a quiet village by the A3088 and A303, and in close proximity to the National Trust-run Montacute House, has gone down like a lead balloon with those who live there.
All 12 comments uploaded to South Somerset District Council's planning website object to the development, with fears about Montacute and nearby Stoke-sub-Hamdon's capacity to cope with more housing, transport and pollution all being raised.
An overhead view of the proposed new housing estate at Masons Lane in Montacute (Image: Boon Brown)
Gemma Whitehead said on the application: "I strongly object to this application on the basis that the road it is on is already a busy slip road and feel development here would be disruptive and dangerous.
"The site is also very close to the school where lots of children cross (the road). The development would also practically merge the two villages or Montacute and Stoke-sub-Hamdon.
"Given the housing developments in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, is there really any need for more housing? This would be the third development in less than two miles of each other.
"I nor the village would welcome the potential additional traffic in the village which would rise significantly if you go on the basis of two cars per new dwelling. The site also would create noise and dust pollution directly on to the rear of our property."
Robert Fisher said: "It would imbalance the population and availability of services within a small village.
"By a parish boundary anomaly, housing sought in the parish of Stoke-sub-Hamdon as a rural centre is not in accordance with the local plan's ambitions for them to be central to that village.
"There is no pressure for such housing within the geographic area of Montacute and houses on the Masons Lane site would suffer considerably from traffic noise from the A3088.
"The additional vehicles likely to result from such development would add to the present traffic congestion in the village and the dangers of a difficult junction with the A3088."
Nigel Hann said: "I strongly object to this development for several reasons. The first and biggest objection is that it will merge the two villages of Montacute and Stoke-sub-Hamdon.
"Villages such as Stoke and Norton and Montacute have natural gaps and between Montacute and Stoke it is Stanchester School and this should always remain not have a bit of Stoke in Mason Lane.
"Other objections are the most obvious in that even thinking of allowing access onto a 60 mile per hour road on a natural bend is beyond belief when you look at the volume of traffic already using this road.
"My last real objection is that we are in the middle of a national lockdown and this matter should be left until all residents can be made fully aware of what is trying to be pushed through."
What the developer says
If approved, it will add more housing to an area of South Somerset that is set to see more than 700 new homes by the time the Agusta Park estate in Lufton is completed.
In a planning statement submitted to South Somerset District Council on behalf of Horton Estates, Charlotte Duff, of architect Boon Brown, said: "The application site comprises suitable housing land in a sustainable location that is available, deliverable and viable for housing development.
"This proposal provides an exciting opportunity to bring the application site into active residential use to help address local housing need.
"Crucially, the proposal will also provide 35 per cent of affordable housing to help meet an identified local need.
"The proposal supports a positive economic, social and environmental dimension and, therefore, comprises sustainable development.
"It has been demonstrated that the proposal will not result in an adverse landscape impact that should outweigh the considerable benefits that would be delivered."
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Members of the public will have the chance to have their say on the development on South Somerset District Council's planning website.
The plans will also be put before the relevant parish councils, where councillors will decide whether to recommend approval of the development.
It will then be down to South Somerset District Council to decide whether planning permission will be granted.
It is likely that decision will be taken at a meeting of the council's area south committee, at which members of the public will be welcome to attend.