A small village near Glastonbury will become the site of more than 30 new homes despite fears it will lead to flooding and subsidence.

Land Value Alliances secured outline permission on appeal in April 2020 to build up to 32 homes on land east of Sub Road in Butleigh, between Glastonbury and Somerton.

The site was subsequently sold to local developer Galion Ltd., which put forward revised proposals for the same number of homes in March 2023.

Somerset Council’s planning committee east voted to approve these revised plans on November 5 despite residents expressing fears that the development would put existing properties at risk.

Sarah Simpson was among the local residents who spoke out against the plans when the council’s planning committee south met in Shepton Mallet.

“My garden and all my windows look directly onto this site," she said. “The plots really are very tall and very big – they are intrusive and will block out light. “This is a really steep hill and it’s caused a lot of problems for existing residents, including flooding."

The new properties will range from two-bedroom flats to five-bedroom houses in size, with ten of the 32 homes being affordable (i.e. being offered at up to 80 per cent of the market rate).

The Glastonbury-based developer secured planning permission in March to deliver 37 homes (along with a café and seven co-working units) on Baltonsborough Road at the other end of the village.

It is also currently working to deliver the St. Dunstan’s Mede development of 36 homes on Ham Street in the neighbouring village of Baltonsborough.

Other residents agreed the scheme would add to the flood risk, 

“Flooding on the northern side already occurs when the field gets waterlogged, and this development increases flood risk," said Nigel Hampton. “There has been an above-average level of subsidence around the site, and to date absolutely nothing has been done to reassure our neighbours.”

Councillor Claire Sully urged Galion to work with the local community.

“Be a good neighbour, because you’re not going to get anywhere if you don’t – you need to think of people’s happiness," she said. “Everyone living on this estate will have to drive – there’s no pavement on Sub Road and the bus service is poor.”

Despite these reservations, the committee voted after two hours’ debate to approve the plans by seven votes to three, with three abstentions.

Construction on the new homes is expected to begin by the summer of 2025.