Reserved matters plans submitted for Windmill Hill Lane, Ashill, near Ilminster

Planning permission for 25 dwellings to the east of Windmill Hill Lane in Ashill was granted by South Somerset District Council (SSDC) in 2019.

The permission was granted subject to a S.106 agreement for nine affordable houses, a financial contribution of £39,576 towards local play and leisure facilities (to be paid before or on occupation of 25 per cent of the dwellings) and the provision of an informal public open space.

There will be a mixture of one, two, three, four and five bed homes, as well as 84 parking spaces.

The housing developer, Burrington Estates Ltd, specialise in bespoke, high specification developments.

The planning application has been submitted on behalf of the developers by Boon Brown architects. 

They have said the plan has been developed to "enhance the existing landscaping".

"The open areas around the site are to be sown and managed as a species rich meadow with minimal maintenance during the growing season to promote biodiversity," a spokesperson said.

"The pond to the north has been designed to permanently hold water to benefit wildlife and to act as attractive landscape feature to bring people closer to nature.

"The pond is to be planted with UK native aquatic plant species, the upper banks are then to be seeded to with a marginal riparian mix of low maintenance wildflowers to promote biodiversity, with groups of both native and specimen trees to reflect a parkland setting.

"The site is surrounded by native species hedges with sporadic trees that are to be retained, protected and maintained at their existing height and density, and where practical strengthened with infill native shrub species."

The properties will be designed in a "contemporary style" but with a "traditional material palette" including natural stone, slate tiles and more.

"The proposed dwellings utilise traditional forms and proportions with a simple rural material palette influenced by the surrounding village context," the spokesperson added.

"This is complimented by contemporary elevational treatment to create a proposal that echoes the heritage of the village while also creating its own distinct identity."

Access to the site is currently via an agricultural gate to the north eastern corner, but the new access is proposed on Windmill Hill Lane opposite the junction with Jeffries Close.

The reserved matters planning application will now go before SSDC's planning committee.

To see the planning application, visit the SSDC planning site and use the reference 20/03697/REM.