Housing development refused for third time

A development of nearly 50 homes has been refused for a third time after a lengthy council debate.

Castle Cary LVA LLP applied for outline permission to build 46 homes on the B3152 South Street, just north of the Somerset town's cemetery in October 2023.

Somerset Council's planning committee south had previously delayed a decision over conservation impact concerns but have now dismissed the plans entirely.

The proposed development would have been sandwiched between existing homes and the cemetery.

"We have absolutely no need, no housing requirement at all for any extra housing – because we have already got considerably more than our allocated share," said Councillor Henry Hobhouse who represents Castle Cary at Somerset Council.

The dismissal comes soon after the government raised the home building target for many local authorities as it strives to build 1.5 million homes in the next five years, with Somerset seeing an increase of 41%.

This increased target has been met with scepticism by some Somerset Councillors.

Councillor Martin Wale, who represents Chard North said: "If you're going to set a minimum number of new homes for a town, there has to be a point, surely, when you've got a maximum":[]}