PLANS have been submitted for 125 new homes in Trull, despite objection from the community.

BSL Strategic Limited registered the application with Somerset Council on Wednesday, October 2. The proposal comprises of 94 units for the open market, and 31 units of affordable housing.

It follows a consultation exercise undertaken in July and August 2024 to seek the views of the local community upon the proposed development. Of the 80 responses received, 76 had raised objections or concerns about the scheme.

The development is proposed to cover 6.69 acres of land at Comeytrowe Lane. The site occupies a series of fields currently used for arable activities and is largely enclosed by field boundary hedgerow. The proposals include new road junction entrances at Comeytrowe Road to the south and College Way to the north west.  

A total of 3.81 hectares of developable area has been earmarked for the delivery of up to 125 new homes based on an average density of 33 dwellings per hectare. Dwellings will predominately be two storeys in height, but some 2.5 storey dwellings are also proposed within the centre of the site. The proposal also includes a play area located in the centre of the site.

25% of the housing proposed is to be affordable. Working on behalf of BSL Strategic Ltd, Tetlow King Planning submitted an Affordable Housing Statement stating: “It is clear that a ‘step change’ in affordable housing delivery is needed now in Somerset Council to address these shortfalls and ensure that the future authority-wide needs for affordable housing can be met.”

“Since the start of the 2016 SHMA period in 2014/15, there have been 753 completions of affordable housing (net of Right to Buy), averaging 151 affordable dwellings per year. However, this falls short of the 161 required net affordable dwellings per annum. Consequently, there is a deficit of -52 affordable dwellings over the five-year period, resulting in an average annual shortfall of -10 affordable dwellings.”

A public consultation takes place from October, 4 to 25, 2024. Comments can be submitted online at Somerset Council's Planning Portal. The reference is: 42/24/0030