PLANS for up to 35 new homes behind Beckington’s Starbucks and Travelodge have been approved by Somerset councillors despite strong objections from local residents.

The London-based OG Group applied in February for outline permission to build the new homes off Trowbridge Road in the small village of Beckington, near Frome.

Local residents strongly objected to the plans, arguing it would put additional pressure on the village’s sewerage system and exacerbate traffic issues.

But Somerset Council’s planning committee east overruled residents, with more detailed proposals expected to come forward in the new year.

The site lies south of the Beckington Services at the northern end of the village, bordered to the east by the busy A36 between Frome and Bath.

Redrow Homes previously attempted to secure permission for 30 homes in the neighbouring field, accessed off Great Dunns Close.

However, these proposals were thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate in October 2022, and a revised plan for 20 homes on the same site (put forward jointly with Cotswold Homes Ltd.) was refused by councillors in early-July.

Access to the new homes will be via Trowbridge Road, with a spine road running behind the Travelodge and the new homes being delivered immediately south of the Starbucks café within the services.

A pedestrian and cycling access will be delivered at the southern end of the site onto Goose Street, providing links to the GP surgery and other local amenities.

Of the 35 homes planned for the site, 11 will be affordable – meeting the council’s 30 per cent target for any new development of ten homes or more within the former Mendip area.

The development will provide nearly £44,000 towards improvements at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, more than £22,000 towards expanding the Beckington Family Practice, nearly £92,000 towards early years provision in the village and almost £16,000 for a multi-use games area (MUGA) nearby.

Almost £58,000 will also be set aside for improvements to the Beckington and White Row roundabouts – two sites which could be enhanced if the government gives its backing to the Selwood Garden Community at the southern edge of Frome.

Local resident Dr Andrew Tyler objected to the proposals when the council’s planning committee east met in Shepton Mallet on Tuesday afternoon (December 2).

In a statement read out on his behalf, he said: “The key issue is inadequate waste water infrastructure, leading to housing developments in Beckington contaminating the nearby designated bathing water at Farleigh Hungerford with sewage.

“No satisfactory solution has been found, and the waste water treatment works are not planned to a receive an upgrade before 2035.”

Beckington and the neighbouring village of Rode shared around £248,000 of investment from the Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA) in late-2022 to improve their sewage systems and reduce surface water flooding, including on Goose Lane.

A reserved matters application, covering the detailed design and layout of the new homes, is expected to come forward by the summer of 2026.