Up to 150 homes at Land Off Broadway Hill, Horton, Ilminster

What was proposed

The outline proposal sought up to 150 homes, open space, landscaping, infrastructure and potential expansion of Horton Playing Field, with access from Broadway Hill fixed.

“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:…”

“35% Affordable Housing with tenure split 80% social rented and 20% Shared Ownership housing OR in circumstances where no registered provider (RP) can be identified, Discount Market housing; • All Affordable Housing integrated throughout the development and be visually distinguishable in design with open market dwellings; • Provision of on-site open space and on-site landscaping (to include an equipped play space) in general accordance with the Illustrative Landscape…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 14.1-hectare agricultural site adjoins Horton, includes a watercourse, mature boundary trees and hedges, and lies mostly in Flood Zone 1.

“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…”

“Wider Context 4.7 Horton and Broadway are defined as ‘Rural Settlements’ in the SSLP. Both have a range of services and facilities, including a primary school, medical centre, village hall, a Post Office, two faith facilities, a play area, and a public house. The main towns of Ilminster and Chard are located approximately 4km to the east and 6km to the south respectively. Taunton and Crewkerne main line train stations are both approximately 15km from Horton.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier work included pre-application advice and environmental impact screening; a separate 49-home scheme north of Broadway Hill was approved on appeal.

“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

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval subject to a legal agreement and conditions, citing housing need, affordable homes, community facilities, biodiversity gains and no significant overall adverse balance.

“Although the site is not allocated for development it is adjacent to the defined development area for Horton which is served by a range of community facilities including a post office/village store, pub, children’s play area/sports pitch, village hall /community centre and church.”

“Overall, there are no adverse impacts that would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the local development plan taken as a whole, having particular regard to key policies for directing development to sustainable locations, making effective use of land, securing well-designed places and providing affordable homes, individually or in combination.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The committee heard objections from residents and representatives of Horton and Broadway Parish Councils, followed by a response from the applicant’s representative.

What members debated

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

“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.”

“Members acknowledged the significant weight to be given to housing delivery and affordable housing but remained concerned about the practical consequences for local infrastructure.”

Minutes

The vote

Cllr Power proposed refusal, seconded by Cllr Osborne; the motion passed with five votes in favour, three against and one abstention.

“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.”

“Voting: 5 in favour, 3 against, 1 abstention.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

Permission was refused because cumulative housing would create unacceptable car dependence and unsafe, unsuitable non-car routes, causing highway safety impacts.

“That planning permission 25/02726/OUT for an outline 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 at Land Off Broadway Hill Horton Ilminster Somerset TA19 9QN be REFUSED for the following reason:”

“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