150-home housing scheme at Land Off Broadway Hill, Horton, Ilminster

What was proposed

An outline scheme sought up to 150 homes, open space, landscaping, infrastructure and possible expansion of Horton Playing Field, with access from Broadway Hill.

“Application Details Application Reference Numbers: 25/02726/OUT Application Types: Outline Application Extension of Time: 31 st March 2026 Description: Outline planning application with all matters reserved, other than access from Broadway Hill, for the construction of up to 150 residential dwellings with open space, landscaping, associated infrastructure and potential expansion of Horton Playing Field Site Address: Land Off Broadway Hill Horton Ilminster TA19 9QN Parish:…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 14.1-hectare agricultural site adjoins Horton, includes a watercourse, mature trees and hedgerows, and is partly affected by flood zones and environmental constraints.

“The application site comprises an area of 14.1 ha of land currently in agricultural use adjoining the south-western edge of Horton. A watercourse runs through the western portion of the site. There is a belt of mature trees around the perimeters and adjacent to the watercourse along with hedgerow boundaries.”

“Site constraints include: • Although located mostly in Flood Zone 1, a watercourse runs through the Site and as a result parts of the site are identified as Flood Zone 2/3 • A303 consultation zone for National Highways • Agricultural Land • Within the Impact Zone of a Site of Special Scientific Interest • Within Somerset Levels and Moors Ramsar site catchment – (Phosphates mitigation strategy required) • Within an area of sparsely distributed Great Crested Newts (GCN) - less…”

Officer report

Planning history

The site had pre-application and environmental impact screening advice, while a separate nearby appeal had approved 49 homes.

“The only recorded planning history for the site relates to the application subject of this report with pre-application advice issued under application reference 25/01312/PREMAJ on 06.08.2025 and an application for EIA screening issued on 05.08.2025 under application reference 25/01731/EIASS.”

“Although not an application for development on the application site, a proposal on land North of Broadway Hill Broadway, approximately 90m north of the Site, was approved for the construction of 49 dwellings at appeal on 15 October 2024 (reference: APP/E3335/W/23/3324775).”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard objections from residents and both parish councils, followed by the applicant’s representative supporting the scheme’s benefits.

What members debated

Members debated cumulative development, car reliance, sustainability, active travel, school routes and whether the proposal overdeveloped Horton and Broadway.

“A lengthy debate followed and members expressed concern regarding:”

“The cumulative scale of development. • Reliance on private vehicles. • Sustainability of the location. • Adequacy of active travel connections. • Safety of routes to school. • Whether the development represented overdevelopment of Horton and Broadway.”

Minutes

The vote and decision

Members voted 5–3 with one abstention to refuse because overdevelopment and cumulative housing would create car dependence and unsafe non-car routes.

“Following a short adjournment to formulate planning reasons for refusal, Cllr Power made a proposal to refuse the application, and this was seconded by Cllr Osborne. When put to the vote the proposal to refuse the application was carried by 5 in favour and 3 against and 1 abstention.”

“Due to the overdevelopment of the settlement and the cumulative impact of housing coming forward in the village the proposal would result in unacceptable levels of car dependency with lack of safe, suitable and appealing non car routes for pedestrian and cyclists to access local facilities, resulting in unacceptable highway safety impacts and car dependence, contrary to policies SS2 and TA5 of the South Somerset Local Plan (2006-2028), the Placemaking Principles for Somerset…”

Minutes