REVISED plans for 180 new homes on “one of the best fields in Somerset” have been put forward by a major housing developer.

Persimmon Homes Wessex put forward outline plans in March 2022 to build up to 190 new homes on the eastern side of the A367 Fosseway South, at the southern edge of Midsomer Norton.

Following negotiations with Somerset Council’s planning officers, the intended number of homes was reduced down to 180 before the proposals were turned down by the council’s planning committee east in August 2024.

This decision was overturned by the Planning Inspectorate in March after the council refused to defend the appeal at a public inquiry held the previous month.

The Malmesbury-based developer has now put forward revised plans for the same number of homes – with a final ruling expected before Christmas.

The site lies to the south of the existing homes on Fossefield Road, a short distance from St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School.

Somerset councillor Philip Ham described the site as “one of the best fields in Somerset” during the planning inquiry held in Shepton Mallet in early-February.

The site was originally allocated for development within the Mendip Local Plan Part II, which was approved by district councillors in December 2021.

However, it was struck out of the plan following a successful judicial review and has not been included in the revised Local Plan Part II, which was recently subject to a series of public hearings before its adoption.

Access from the development will be from the A367, with a new pedestrian crossing being delivered south of the entrance to provide a connection with both the existing Beauchamp Avenue homes and the new Cherry Blossom View and Somer Meadows estates, which are currently under construction.

Of the 180 homes earmarked for the site, 54 will be affordable, meeting the council’s 30 per cent target for any new development of ten homes or more in the former Mendip area.

In addition to the affordable homes and green space to the south-east of the new homes, Persimmon has promised to provide nearly £84,000 towards new special needs school places in Midsomer Norton, nearly £180,000 towards school transport costs, and just over £80,000 for local GP surgeries (split between the Mendip Country Practice in Radstock and Oakhill Surgery in Oakhill).

A spokesman for the developer said: “The proposed development is the construction of 180 residential dwellings, mainly comprising of two-storey dwellings, a number of two-and-a-half storey dwellings with two three-storey apartment blocks, located at the entrance of the site.

“It also includes the associated infrastructure such as access roads, pumping station, substation, car parking and open space landscaping.

“This will be assessed regularly throughout the build to accommodate increases of contractors on site.”

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the reserved matters application before the end of the year.

Due to the scale and significance of the application, this decision is likely to be taken in public by its planning committee east, rather than via the delegated powers of its planning officers.