Andrew Joliffe, the son of Lord Hylton who lives at Ammerdown House, built over 200 years ago and a Grade I listed building set in a formal garden within landscaped parkland, has arranged a public exhibition at Writhlington Village Hall to let local residents see his plans for around fifty new homes on greenfield land opposite the former Fir Tree Inn and Writhlington School.

His agents, Savills, writing from Wimborne, near Bournemouth, explain: 'Until very recently, my client has regarded development on this site as a prospect only for the very long term, if at all. However, as a consequence of recent changes in national and local policy, there is now a renewed expectation that such sites should be considered by through the planning system.

'My client is determined that any future development on this site will sensitively designed and appropriate in scale and that it will add to the community rather than detract from it.'

A public consultation has been arranged for Writhlington Village Hall between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday, 25th October when initial concepts for the site will be on show.

B&NES' plans are in a mess as the Council has failed to convince the Government-appointed Planning Inspector evaluating B&NES' long-term plans that they have made sufficient provision for new homes over the period upto 2026. At the moment, the housing plans are being reconsidered by the Council's own planners. This has created an opportunity for developers to bring forward plans for new homes on sites which had little chance. Many similar greenfield sites nearer to Bath and Bristol are protected by greenbelt restrictions from development, focusing developers' attention to areas like Radstock and Midsomer Norton well clear of the greenbelt.

It is unlikely, B&NES housing allocation will be resolved quickly, the Planning Inspector appeared to favour B&NES preparing a new District Plan (the Core Strategy), but B&NES persuaded him to let them try and patch it up.

The UK is supposed to have a plan-led development system, but for that to work, the Council must prepare the plan and have it approved in a timely manner. B&NES and its predecessor Council, Wansdyke, have a long-established track record of failing to do that properly.

In the meantime, expect the unexpected, as landowners use the opportunity created by B&NES' failure to designate enough housing land for new homes.