An old car dealership could be given a new lease of life with new plans to transform the site. 

The Vauxhall Downside dealership on Wells Road in Chilcompton, which had been a staple of the area for more than thirty years, closed down in 2020. 

In the 1920s, the site was the yard for housebuilder John Golledge, later being used by his brother as a cycle repair and sales shop. 

By the 1940s, it was used as a petrol station, later becoming a coach depot and then being used as a car sales site. 

Now, new plans have been submitted by developer Mendip and Somerset Homes to adapt the site into a residential development. 

The new development would see seven new homes constructed on the site, with the plans showing one set of three terraced houses and two sets of two semi-detached homes. 

Two of the terraced houses would be three-bedroom, while the other would have two bedrooms, and all three would have a low-walled front garden and an enclosed rear garden with parking beyond. 

Of the semi-detached homes, two are three-bedroom houses while the other two are four-bedroom houses, each with a garage, parking and front and rear gardens. 

The site would also incorporate electric vehicle charging points and parking for visitors.

In the application, the developer commented: “The site is located in the centre of the village with residential properties either side and opposite and with the village hall and the St Vigor and St John (CofE) school to the west and behind.

“Industrial and commercial premises within the village are now concentrated in three primary locations, New Rock industrial Estate, Broadway and Manor Farm. 

“The proposal therefore is to demolish the existing showroom and servicing workshop and build a small cul-de-sac of seven dwellings. 

“The houses would be built of local reconstituted stone and render under a profiled concrete tiled roof to compliment and reflect the traditional materials used in the neighbouring properties.”