Development of 50 homes could soon begin in Merriott

South Somerset District Council granted outline permission in February 2020 for 50 homes to be built on the south side of Church Street in Merriott, which lies between Crewkerne and the A303.

Merriott LVA LLP, which is based in Sherborne over the border in Dorset, has now submitted revised proposals for the same number of houses.

Somerset Council is expected to make a final ruling on the proposals later this year – proposals which locals have criticised for their design, lack of green space and loss of privacy for neighbouring residents.

The site lies at the north-western edge of Merriott, a short drive from the ARK Egwood community project and a stone’s throw from the Stonewater development of 39 homes on Shiremoor Hill.

Access to the new development would be from Church Street, with the possibility of a secondary access onto Granary Barton Close for pedestrians and emergency vehicles.

The properties will range in size from one-bedroom flats to four-bedroom houses, with 17 of the 50 homes being affordable.

Public open space will be provided in the eastern part of the site, with the bulk of the market housing being allocated to the west and 131 car parking spaces being provided throughout the site.

A spokesman for A2 Architecture and Development Ltd. (representing the applicant) said: “The development respects its setting and seeks to enhance its mixed rural and residential landscape.

“It is a green-centric scheme with provision of open space, retaining many existing trees and planting new ones.

“The site’s access point and road layout allow for ease of manoeuvrability through the site, as well as adequate parking provision.

“The proposal will offer considerable benefits, including the provision of a valuable contribution to the council’s housing supply, along with much-needed affordable housing.”

Plans for 50 homes on Church Street in Merriott. (Image: A2 Architecture And Development)

Merriott Parish Council has formally objected to the plans, arguing the development would be out of keeping with the village’s character and would not provide enough green space for the new residents.

Parish clerk Rachel Moon said: “The dwellings on the south side of the site should be single-storey to match the neighbouring dwellings in Sherlands Gardens and avoid a significant loss of privacy and visual amenity for existing residents.

“A total of 151 parking spaces are required to match the proposed distribution of dwelling sizes. Tandem parking should not be used as this will encourage disruptive on-road parking.

“The proposed building materials would establish a visual amenity which is out of keeping with the surrounding architecture.

“The public open space is inadequate and poorly located, and the affordable housing is poorly integrated with the overall development plan, with one-bedroom properties grouped in a single large building and the other dwellings grouped along the southern boundary.”

Numerous residents have also lodged their objections on the council’s planning portal.

Lee Blount, who lives on Hitchen near the site, said: “The village has had more than its fair share of new housing in the last few years.

“There is no evidence that new housing on this scale is needed. The village does not have enough amenities and the school is at full capacity.”

Mary Bryant, of Sherland Gardens, said: “This is the last greenfield site in Merriott and has a very diverse amount of wildlife, some of which is endangered.

“There should be a new ecological report carried out as the last one was more than three years ago. A lot has changed since then.”

Susan Rowley, of Granary Barton Close, added: “The inadequate parking in the new development will lead to residents attempting to park on our road.

“We will do everything in our power to oppose this development – and if it does go ahead, under no circumstance will we allow residents of the new development to use our road.”

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the plans by the end of the summer.